The idea that these medications may extend lifespan isn’t exactly far-fetched; it’s more of an extension of what they’ve already been shown to do. Studies have found that along with helping people shed fat and control blood sugar, GLP-1 drugs improve the health of many different parts of the body, lowering the risk of heart, kidney and liver disease, for example, and reducing sleep apnea and inflammation, which contribute to loss of health and function as people age.
“Aging is the biggest risk factor for many diseases, and if we can target aging itself, we might be able to treat all kinds of diseases that are associated with aging,” said Dr. Danica Chen, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley who studies calorie restriction and aging.
Now, scientists have turned their attention to biological markers of aging to better understand exactly how GLP-1 drugs may affect the aging process.
Oct 12,2026