Researchers are testing whether GLP‑1 drugs such as tirzepatide and semaglutide can slow biological aging by measuring DNA‑based aging clocks, inflammation, cognition and physical function. UTMB's trial will follow adults aged 55–70 on tirzepatide, while a smaller UCSD/Case Western study found signals after 32 weeks of semaglutide in people with HIV. Experts caution the results are preliminary and larger, rigorous trials with clinical aging outcomes are needed; GLP‑1s are not currently recommended for longevity in healthy people.
Can GLP‑1 Drugs Slow Biological Aging? New Trials Test Tirzepatide and Semaglutide
STOCK PHOTO/ADOBE STOCK - PHOTO: Semaglutide is seen in this undated stock photo.
Scientists are exploring whether GLP‑1 medications — already used for weight management and diabetes — might also slow biological aging. Several early clinical studies are now testing whether drugs such as tirzepatide (Zepbound) and semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) affect markers linked to aging, inflammation, cognition and physical function.
Major Trials Under Way
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston are leading one of the first randomized clinical trials to evaluate tirzepatide's impact on aging. The trial will follow adults aged 55 to 70 who qualify for weight‑loss treatment and will measure biological age markers, inflammation, cognitive function, strength and mobility.
"We ultimately hope that our research will show that we slow biologic aging by 10 to 15%," said Dr. Thomas Blackwell, a professor of medicine at UTMB, in an interview with ABC News.
Supporting Early Evidence
Smaller studies have generated encouraging but preliminary signals. Teams from UC San Diego School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University analyzed blood from 84 adults living with HIV who had abnormal fat redistribution. After 32 weeks of semaglutide treatment, participants showed changes on several DNA‑based "aging clocks" that were consistent with slower biological aging.
"This was really kind of the first look to say, hey, in this scenario, which has a lot of limitations, there essentially was a signal here that warranted future study," said Dr. Michael Corley, an associate professor of medicine at UCSD.
What This Does — And Doesn’t — Mean
Although these findings are intriguing, they are preliminary. DNA aging clocks and other biomarkers can suggest biological changes, but larger, longer and rigorously designed trials that include clinical aging endpoints (for example, disease incidence, disability, or lifespan) are needed before concluding that GLP‑1s extend healthy life.
The World Health Organization recently issued its first guidance on GLP‑1 weight‑loss medications, reflecting global attention to the drug class. Still, at present there is no evidence to recommend GLP‑1 medications to healthy people solely for life‑extension. Researchers emphasize that investigations into potential anti‑aging benefits are only beginning.
Key Takeaways
Early trials are testing whether widely prescribed GLP‑1 drugs can influence biological aging markers, but definitive evidence of longevity benefits is not yet available. Larger, targeted studies with clinical endpoints are required to confirm any anti‑aging effects.
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