Ozempic® and Co.: GLP-1 MICRODOSING for longevity

A new era of longevity medicine

OVERVIEW

From diabetes medication to the longevity revolution

GLP-1 analogs such as semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) have attracted enormous attention in recent years – not only as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, but also as highly effective drugs for weight loss. But while the weight loss hype dominates, a scientific revolution is brewing in the background: the targeted use of these drugs to optimize longevity.

What are GLP-1 analogs?

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is an incretin hormone that plays a key role in the regulation of blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity and satiety. Originally developed as a diabetes medication, studies are increasingly showing that these drugs have benefits that go far beyond glucose metabolism. There is evidence that they can modulate inflammatory processes, improve cardiovascular health and even promote neuroprotective mechanisms in the brain.

GLP-1 and weight loss

Research shows that GLP-1 analogs not only cause a reduction in body fat, but also trigger profound metabolic changes that are directly linked to longevity. A study by Wilding et al. (2021) in theNew England Journal of Medicine showed that semaglutide led to an average weight loss of over 15 % in obese patients. However, the actual mechanism behind this weight loss – improving metabolic flexibility and insulin sensitivity – is of even greater importance for longevity research.

A new approach to longevity medicine

Microdosing with GLP-1 analogs

While the standard doses of GLP-1 analogs were primarily developed for obesity and diabetes patients, longevity research shows a different picture: smaller doses, used in a targeted manner, could have a hormetic effect – i.e. trigger a mild stress response that activates regenerative processes in the body. Current research on this:

A large-scale meta-analysis of nineteen clinical studies showed that low-dose GLP-1 agonists can significantly reduce various  health risks – regardless of body weight.

  • GLP-1 can play an important role in various metabolic disorders, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, decreasing visceral adiposity and fat deposition in the liver as well as insulin resistance in non-alcoholic liver disease.
  • In addition, GLP-1 analogs lead to improvements in glucose metabolism in the brain and glucose transport across the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer’s disease.
  • They can alleviate depressive symptoms and be used to improve quality of life and the depression scale.
  • Studies evaluating the effect of GLP-1 analogs in Parkinson’s disease showed positive results in the motor and behavioral spheres triggered by comorbidity.
  • Recent research also shows that GLP-1 analogs may have a role in treating chemical dependence, inhibiting dopaminergic release in the brain’s reward centers, reducing withdrawal effects and relapse.
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Source: Laurindo LF, Barbalho SM, Guiguer EL, da Silva Soares de Souza M, de Souza GA, Fidalgo TM, Araújo AC, de Souza Gonzaga HF, de Bortoli Teixeira D, de Oliveira Silva Ullmann T, Sloan KP, Sloan LA. GLP-1a: Going beyond Traditional Use. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 10;23(2):739. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020739. PMID: 35054924; PMCID: PMC8775408.

A study by Holscher (2020) in “Frontiers in Neuroscience” showed that GLP-1 agonists reduce amyloid beta deposits in the brain and may therefore have a preventive effect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Low doses of GLP-1 can activate anti-inflammatory signaling pathways, in particular by inhibiting NF-kB, a key regulator of inflammatory processes(Lee et al., 2021, “Nature Medicine”).

live better for longer

OZEMPIC® as part of a longevity strategy?

The approach of integrating GLP-1 agonists into longevity medicine is based on several factors:

  • Improving metabolic flexibility:
    GLP-1 agonists support the body’s ability to switch between glucose and fat burning.
  • Autophagy and cell cleansing:
    Initial animal studies suggest that GLP-1 receptor activation promotes autophagy processes.
  • Reduction of biological ageing:
    A combination of weight reduction, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects could significantly slow down biological ageing.

The game changer in longevity medicine

GLP-1 analogs have established themselves in recent years as highly effective drugs for diabetes and weight loss. However, research is increasingly showing that they also activate profound mechanisms that are directly linked to longevity. Microdosing could be a promising approach to target the benefits of these substances – without the side effects of high doses.

Are you ready to redefine the boundaries of your biological age?

In our practice Origin Health in Basel we rely on innovative strategies to put the best scientific findings into practice. The future of longevity medicine is data-driven, precise and individualized.