NIH-funded study finds semaglutide slows aging in mice

September 12, 2026 at 07:02 PM1 min

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Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, reduced aging effects and extended lifespan in older mice in an NIH-funded study. The drug outperformed calorie restriction in several measures, including exploratory behavior and blood-sugar maintenance. The findings suggest GLP-1 drugs may act on aging itself.

Key Facts

Semaglutide extended median lifespan by nearly 100 days in older female mice compared with untreated mice.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by Danica Chen at the University of California, Berkeley.
Mice receiving semaglutide showed better muscle and cognitive function, reduced inflammation, and improved tissue repair.
In a direct comparison, semaglutide improved exploratory behavior, spatial memory, and blood-sugar maintenance beyond starting levels, while calorie restriction did not.

Study Design

Researchers gave semaglutide to 20-month-old female mice for three months. A separate group received the drug until death to measure lifespan. The team was led by Danica Chen at the University of California, Berkeley.

Comparison with Calorie Restriction

For five months, one group of 20-month-old female mice received semaglutide while another was placed on a 24% calorie-restricted diet. Both approaches produced many similar effects, but semaglutide improved exploratory behavior, spatial memory, and blood-sugar maintenance beyond starting levels. Metabolic rate remained largely unchanged in semaglutide-treated mice, while it slowed in calorie-restricted animals.

Implications for Aging

Rafael de Cabo, a senior investigator at the NIH's National Institute on Aging, said most chronic diseases are rooted in the aging process. If GLP-1 agonists slow aging, a wide range of clinical benefits would be expected, de Cabo wrote in a commentary.