This past week has been a tumultuous one for GLP-1 drugs. First, a new study that suggested they can improve longevity. And within days, another reported a link with a potentially fatal brain condition. Would you take GLP-1 meds regardless of the risk?
Would you take GLP-1 meds solely to lose weight, regardless of the other potential
benefits? Regardless of the risk of developing a serious brain disorder?
They said it was a miracle when GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy were proven to promote weight loss without any kind of special diet or exercise. And it’s no surprise that 30 million Americans have jumped on the semaglutide bandwagon.
But recent findings in studies on other effects of the drugs have raised more questions than they answer.
First, the good news…
Researchers at at the University of California, Berkeley set out to compare semaglutide directly with calorie restriction, one of the best-known interventions for extending lifespan in laboratory animals. But they got more than they bargained for…
The drug reproduced many of the anti-aging effects of eating less, but in several important areas, it appeared to go even further.
“The findings raise an intriguing possibility,” an abstract of the study report relates. “GLP-1 drugs may influence the aging process itself. Earlier animal studies have shown that these drugs can delay the onset of multiple age-related diseases. If semaglutide acts on biological mechanisms that drive ag-ing, that could help explain why GLP-1 treatments have shown benefits across such a wide range of health conditions.”
Now, the bad news…
An Australian research team looking into the side effects of GLP-1 meds data-mined the the US Food and Drug Administration’s adverse event reports and related literature. And they found an alarming trend among folks who use GLP-1 meds solely for weight loss, The Independent reports.
They uncovered, in 2023 and 2024 alone, 15 cases of an extremely rare, but potentially fatal brain condition involving an extreme lack of vitamin B1. Wernicke Encephalopathy (WE) can cause perman-ent memory loss and an inability to form new memories. In extreme cases, it can be deadly.
Sufferers often complain of other side effects including vomiting and diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
My take
The wise elders of the human tribe have always said; for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. The ancient principle that nature will always seek equilibrium also supports that theory…
My questions to you…
Would you take GLP-1 meds solely in the hope of living longer?
Would you take GLP-1 meds solely for weight loss, regardless of the other possible benefits?
Would you take GLP-1 meds for either of the above reasons – and disregard the danger of developing a serious brain disorder?
Muse on that!
~ Maggie J.