Ozempic and Mounjaro May Slow Aging, Drugmakers Say

Popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro might do more than help you shed pounds—they could also slow down the aging process. At a recent conference, drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk presented findings showing that patients taking these drugs had a biological age two to three years younger than those taking a placebo. Biological age is measured by special "aging clocks" that look at changes in DNA or proteins over time. The difference was seen across different organs, with one heart-related measure showing as much as a four-year slowdown.

These drugs, called GLP-1s, work by mimicking a hormone that tells your brain you're full. But studies have shown they also improve kidney function, lower blood pressure, and reduce the overall risk of death. Now, scientists think they might be acting on the basic causes of aging. "Two years is a pretty strong effect," says Steve Horvath, who invented aging clocks. He says the data suggests these drugs could be "geroprotectors"—medications that slow or even reverse aging.

The studies are also a big boost for aging clocks themselves. For years, scientists weren't sure if these molecular measures were reliable. Now, seeing them change with a drug that has clear benefits gives them confidence. Novo's study included over 10,000 people, half on the drug and half on placebo, and used protein-based clocks. Lilly's smaller study used DNA-based clocks and found similar results. "All the clocks are telling a consistent story," says Kevin Duffin, Lilly's vice president for aging research.

However, there's a catch. The effect varied widely depending on which clock and which organ was tested. And it's not clear if these drugs would slow aging in healthy people. "In an unhealthy population, I do think it's an anti-aging drug," says Harvard biologist Vadim Gladyshev. "But in a healthy population, no one knows." Still, the findings add to the excitement that these blockbuster drugs might be a true longevity treatment.