Ozempic has been hailed as a game-changer The miracle cure for weight lossbut the supernatural powers Extending far beyond Treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Daniel J. Drucker, a Canadian endocrinologist who pioneered diabetes treatment and paved the way for the development of Ozempic, What’s the future of this obesity treatment?These drugs, which mimic the GLP-1 hormone to make you feel full and eat less, have already been shown to be effective in weight loss. heart and Kidney disease.
“In the early chapters of GLP-1 innovation, [blood sugar] “Control, and later reduction,” Drucker writes. Science Magazine Friday Edition“Subsequent waves appear more likely to improve health outcomes for people with a range of chronic conditions.”
Reduces inflammation
Chronic inflammation, a condition in which the immune system remains activated even after the threat of injury or disease has passed, is associated with diabetes. Heart disease There are also serious illnesses such as cancer.
Drucker said high blood sugar and excess body fat can cause inflammation, so GLP-1 drugs indirectly reduce inflammation through weight loss.
The drug also activates T cells, an important part of the immune system, independent of weight loss.
Drucker’s team recently The gut-brain-immune network that controls inflammation throughout the body.
“We know from animal and human studies that GLP-1 appears to reduce inflammation almost universally.” Drucker told Nature magazine in January..
Targeting brain diseases
Neuroinflammation (inflammation of nervous tissue) is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, brain disorders characterized by cognitive decline.
About 5.8 million Americans Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementia.
Semaglutide — the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic — Testing The aim is to see if it has a beneficial effect on early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Preliminary results Maybe it’ll come next year.
As for Parkinson’s diseaseDrucker reports that a large Phase 3 trial of the GLP-1 drug exenatide is underway.
“Several clinical trials have tested exenatide as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, with mixed results,” Drucker wrote in Science.
About 1 million Americans People with Parkinson’s disease may experience symptoms such as slowed movements, tremors, stiffness and difficulty walking.
Improved mental health
Drucker says several trials are also underway to determine whether GLP-1 drugs can mitigate addiction-related behaviors.
He noted that semaglutide was associated with a reduced risk of: Suicidal thoughts Compared to other weight loss drugs.
He gives the following anecdotal report: Ozempic users drink less alcohol Although common, test results are inconclusive.
Effects of medications on depression and anxiety is also being studied.
Drucker predicts that the next decade of GLP-1 research “has the potential to produce even greater advances.”
“Dozens of new molecules are being investigated in the clinic, some of which target new mechanisms and may be not just more effective but may be more effective across multiple diseases. [blood sugar] “Control and weight loss,” he wrote.
