Semaglutide could slow down process of ageing, JACC journal research shows

Diabetes medication could slow down the process of ageing and treat the causes of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses, new JACC research shows.

Diabetes medication could slow down the process of ageing and treat the causes of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses, according to new research published in medical journals including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

The research showed Semaglutide, also available as Ozempic and Wegovy, could have “far-reaching benefits beyond what we initially imagined”.

The studies tracked more than 17,600 people, aged 45 or older, as they were given 2.4mg of semaglutide or a placebo for more than three years.

Participants were obese or overweight and had cardiovascular disease — but not diabetes.

Those who took the drug died at a lower rate from all causes, including cardiovascular issues and Covid-19.

People using the drug were just as likely to catch Covid but they were less likely to die from it, with 2.6 per cent dying among those on semaglutide compared with 3.1 per cent on the placebo.

The drug “consistently reduced the risk” of adverse cardiovascular outcomes regardless of sex.

It also improved heart failure symptoms and cut inflammation levels.

Professor Harlan M Krumholz from the Yale School of Medicine, who edits the JACC journal, is quoted in multiple reports as saying: “Is it a fountain of youth?”

“I would say if you’re improving someone’s cardiometabolic health substantially, then you are putting them in a position to live longer and better,” he said.

“It’s not just avoiding heart attacks. These are health promoters.”

Prof Krumholz is also quoted as saying it “has far-reaching benefits beyond what we initially imagined” at the European Society of Cardiology Conference 2024, where the studies were presented.

There are lots of ways to keep young and healthy with regular exercise and a good diet. Picture: Thinkstock

Experts hypothetised the injections could help treat arthritis and Alzheimer’s, and trials involving researchers from Yale and Harvard showed semaglutide could reverse kidney disease, heart failure, reduce untreatable high blood pressure and reduce the risk of dying from Covid-19.

“These ground-breaking medications are poised to revolutionise cardiovascular care and could dramatically enhance cardiovascular health,” Prof Krumholz added.

Dr Benjamin Scirica, lead author of one of the studies — The Effect of Semaglutide on Mortaility and Covid-19-Related Deaths: An Analysis from the Select Trial — and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Harvard Medical School, said the findings “reinforce that overweight and obesity increases the risk of death due to many etiologies”.

But he told PA this “can be modified with potent incretin-based therapies like semaglutide”.

In Australia Ozempic is only approved to manage type 2 diabetes and it is not approved for weight loss.

Over the past couple of years, the skyrocketing popularity of the diabetic drugs has seen Australians admitted into emergency over their misuse.

Novo Nordisk recently advised Australia’s medicines watchdog TGA that Ozempic supply will remain limited for the rest of 2024.

The TGA has warned the weight loss company to not initiate new patients on Ozempic unless there are no suitable alternatives or there is a compelling clinical reason to do so.