Could GLP-1s Become the First Longevity Drug?

Drugs like Ozempic have demonstrated unexpected health benefits, with some longevity enthusiasts suggesting the drugs could extend healthy lifespans. Could they become the first-ever FDA-approved longevity medications? It may be too early to tell.

Ozempic and Wegovy have been in the spotlight in recent years thanks to endorsement from patients and doctors alike. They belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1s, short for glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, which were initially developed for treating type 2 diabetes.

Because they suppress appetite and increase the feeling of satiety, the drugs have been used for weight loss, including off-label. One study shows that people on Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a dual GLP and GIP agonist, lost up to 22.5% of their body weight during the 72-week treatment when combined with diet and exercise.

Some consider GLP-1s one of the most important drug breakthroughs ever, raising hopes that the medication will prove to have benefits beyond blood sugar control and weight loss. There's already some evidence suggesting it can help curb addiction and protect heart health.

David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, recently wrote on social network X that GLP-1 receptor agonists "are looking like longevity drugs."

Bryan Johnson, a biohacker who spends millions of dollars trying not to die, started microdosing tirzepatide, a type of GLP-1s, only to discontinue it the following month due to the drug's impact on heart and sleep.

Some clinics already offer microdosing — using very small doses — of GLP-1s for alleged longevity benefits, such as reduced chronic inflammation and enhanced function of mitochondria, known as the "powerhouses of the cell."

The benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists

The media have dubbed the GLP-1s 'miracle medications,' with some users calling them 'life-changing,' leading not only to better health but also to healthier habits.

Here's the list of their proven and potential health benefits other than for diabetes and obesity:

1. In 2024, the FDA approved the weight loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) for a new indication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight. Obesity is linked to the development of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, raising the risk of mortality.

2. Last year, the FDA approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity. Obese or severely obese individuals are nearly twice as likely to have OSA than those with normal weight.

3. Ozempic (semaglutide) is now FDA-approved to reduce the risk of kidney disease worsening, kidney failure, and death from cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

4. About 40% of people with type 2 diabetes experience CKD, which can further increase sickness and raise the risk of cardiovascular problems and death. A 2025 study that included 18,106 kidney transplant recipients with diabetes found that those who took GLP-1s had 31% lower mortality than those who didn't receive the drug.

5. GLP-1s have shown promise in treating alcohol and substance use disorders. The potential mechanisms are related to reward processing, stress, and cognitive function. However, more studies are needed, as the benefits are mostly based on anecdotal evidence.

6. A 2024 study associated semaglutide with 40% to 70% reduced risks of first-time Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in people with type 2 diabetes, compared to other antidiabetic medications, insulin, and different types of GLP-1s.

In those with high body mass indexes (BMIs), the decrease is faster. Obesity can also lower a person's resilience to the damage in the brain that Alzheimer's disease causes, leading to worse symptoms and faster disease progression.

7. GLP-1s currently aren't approved for type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition whose causes are unknown. Nevertheless, research suggests their therapeutic potential. For example, a 2024 study found that people with type 1 diabetes who were treated with GLP-1s experienced clinical improvements and needed much less insulin.

9. Living with obesity may increase the risk of 13 types of cancer. A large 2024 study found that treatment with GLP-1s may reduce the risk of 10 obesity-related cancers in people with type 2 diabetes compared to other diabetes medications, including insulin or metformin. However, the use of GLP-1s was associated with a higher risk of kidney cancer.

How can GLP-1s improve longevity?

Reducing obesity and the risk of its associated conditions may help people enjoy longer and healthier lives. Moderate obesity shortens life expectancy by about three years, while severe obesity may take off 10 years of life, the impact equal to the effects of lifelong smoking. But are these indirect effects sufficient to call GLP-1s universal anti-aging drugs?

Some argue that activating GLP-1 receptors may significantly impact cellular processes linked to aging, such as boosting mitochondrial function, enhancing resistance to cellular stress, and reducing inflammation. In a recent review, researchers from Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, emphasized the drugs' potential in reducing inflammation associated with aging.

Both mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation are among the hallmarks of aging, the interconnected biological and body changes that occur as we age.

Dr Valter Longo, a professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, says GLP-1s should not be used for the extension of a healthy lifespan due to their side effects like major muscle loss, depression, anxiety, eye disease (NAION), and potential bone density loss.

Natural aging already causes muscle loss. After the age of 30, individuals lose about 3–8% of their muscle mass per decade, and the decline may accelerate even further after 60. Bone density loss also occurs with age and especially affects women, who can lose up to 20% of their bone density within 5–7 years after menopause.

According to Longo, feasible alternatives like a Mediterranean diet, cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD), or daily time-restricted eating — or a combination of these — are more effective with a few side effects.

GLP-1s should be considered for the treatment of diabetes and obesity only when dietary and other lifestyle interventions fail but only if they fail after a team of specialized lifestyle professionals have been following the patient long term and agree that the patient is unlikely to respond to lifestyle interventions.

Dr Valter Longo

Among the major concerns with GLP-1s are gastrointestinal side effects. A 2023 study found that GLP-1 users may have a 9.09 times higher risk of pancreatitis, 4.2 times higher risk of bowel obstruction, and 3.67 times higher risk of stomach paralysis compared to the users of bupropion-naltrexone, a weight loss drug.

There are several lawsuits against GLP-1 manufacturers alleging that their users weren't adequately warned about the drugs' side effects. Last year, an American woman, Juanita Gantt, sued Ozempic's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, claiming that the use of the drug led to the death of parts of the large intestine, which had to be removed. Novo Nordisk called the suit "without merit."

Other candidates for longevity medications

GLP-1s are relatively new drugs, and it may take years to learn about all of their potential benefits and side effects. Meanwhile, scientists and biohackers are eyeing other FDA-approved medications that could potentially be used for longevity.

Metformin, one of the most widely prescribed diabetes drugs in the United States, has been shown to reduce the incidence of age-related diseases in animal models. Some studies suggest people with type 2 diabetes who take metformin may be at a lower risk of multiple cancers.

However, individuals shouldn't take the drug for longevity purposes, as current evidence does not conclusively prove its effectiveness for this indication.

Another potential longevity drug is rapamycin, an immunosuppressant used for organ transplants. According to a 2024 systematic review of 19 studies, rapamycin may improve physiological parameters associated with aging in the immune, cardiovascular, and integumentary (skin, hair, nails, and glands) systems of healthy individuals or those with aging-related diseases. However, the drug is associated with side effects like increased numbers of infections and cholesterol.

SGLT2 inhibitors, such as canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, are FDA-approved to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. They are associated with the reduced risk of common aging-related conditions, ranging from heart failure to chronic kidney disease and dementia, as well as improved overall life expectancy.

In a research article published in 2024, longevity scientists Nir Barzilai and Michael Leone from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, evaluated the candidate gerotherapeutics, the drugs targeting the underlying mechanisms of aging. GLP-1s scored 10 out of 12, showing lower potential than SGLT2 inhibitors, metformin, and bisphosphonates, scoring between 11 and 12.

Are GLP-1s the next longevity drugs?

GLP-1s can help users live longer by improving the management of type 2 diabetes and reducing obesity and its associated health risks. However, like any other medications, they come with side effects, some of which may exacerbate natural aging processes like muscle or bone mass loss. GLP-1s are powerful drugs that shouldn't be taken for indications not approved by the FDA and without a doctor's supervision.