Having become a crucial tool for managing type 2 diabetes and taken the celebrity world by storm as a slimming jab, medications like Ozempic are now being studied to see if they could treat illnesses ranging from dementia to alcohol abuse.

While Semaglutide is a substance that is found in Wegovy, a weight-loss medication with a license, and Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes prescription, Liraglutide -- a related drug -- is marketed for both uses under other brand names.

These drugs have gained enormous popularity, especially since they can aid in weight loss of up to 10% of the body. Clinical trials are being set up by researchers who believe the medications may offer additional benefits.

"We know that drugs in this class are remarkably effective for several important health outcomes – many of which can influence longevity and quality of life," Dr. Christian Hendershot, director of the clinical and translational addiction research program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said.

Sometimes, "there is a sense that some of this might be too good to be true, he added, stressing that "any potential benefits should be investigated."

"Excessive weight has been identified as a significant risk factor for a range of comorbidities, including fatty liver, various cancers, dementia, and cardiovascular diseases," Dr. Harshal Deshmukh, a consultant endocrinologist and senior clinical lecturer at the University of Hull, said, adding that with such associations, "it's not surprising that numerous clinical trials are currently investigating the potential impact of Semaglutide on these health conditions."

Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Wegovy, stated last month that those who are obese or overweight have a 20% lower risk of suffering a significant cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.

The medicine may be directly impacting blood vessels or the heart, according to scientists, who note that it is unclear whether the improvements are due to weight loss alone.

As for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), experts are hopeful that medications like Semaglutide will help. The condition can lead to irregular periods, hormonal imbalances, and infertility, and it is thought to affect 8–13% of women of reproductive age. Additionally, there is a connection between it and type 2 diabetes risk and insulin resistance.

"Central to the management of PCOS is weight loss," according to Deshmukh, who is running a study to discover the effect of Semaglutide on androgen reduction, weight, and life quality in women with PCOS. However, he noted that there are more potential uses via which the medication may be beneficial.

"Notably, the receptors impacted by Semaglutide are also expressed within the female reproductive pathway," he said, adding that this has a system that comprises the hypothalamus and ovaries, and a hormonal pathway may be involved.

Deshmukh and others warn that more thorough research is necessary, but they believe that Semaglutide may be able to assist treat the full range of PCOS symptoms, potentially including infertility by boosting rates of ovulation.

Would they help, or not?

Related News

Scientists identify mix of heat, humidity a human body can survive

Russian scientists discover method to use fireflies to detect bacteria

Whether these medications could help with aging is the subject of certain trials, like the one conducted by Dr. Tiffany Cortes, of the University of Texas. According to her, people tend to lose lean body mass and develop body fat as they age. Importantly, symptoms common in older persons, such as frailty, loss of muscle mass, and strength, are influenced by obesity and insulin resistance.

She added that there was optimism that medications like Semaglutide, whether as a direct result of weight loss or through other processes, could aid elderly persons in regaining physical function.

However, not all medical conditions for which medications like Semaglutide are being tested have ties to overweight.

Hendershot is one of many who intend to investigate how these medications, also known as GLP-1 analogs, affect addiction.

According to Hendershot, the medications imitate GLP-1, a hormone that is naturally produced in the gut and brain in reaction to ingested food. They seem to reduce the reward linked not only with food but also with drugs and encourage feelings of fullness.

After hearing that persons using GLP-1 analogs for diabetes had cut back on their alcohol usage, the concept was born. Animal studies, according to Hendershot, revealed that the drugs might have an impact on drug use and consumption.

The results "have been consistent, especially for alcohol," Hendershot said.

After studies revealed persons who used GLP-1 analogs for type 2 diabetes had a reduced prevalence of such problems, dementia researchers are looking into medications like Semaglutide.

One person working in the field is Dr. Paul Yates, a consultant geriatrician and the deputy director of aged care research at Austin Health in Australia. According to him, GLP-1 and its analogs seem to have positive effects on the brain.

GLP-1 analogs like Semaglutide may seem suspiciously like a potential cure-all, but specialists say there is some logic to the situation.

"We should always be skeptical but this might be different," said Dr. Kyle Simmons of Oklahoma State University, who is also looking at whether Semaglutide could benefit those with alcohol use disorder. "And the reason why is because it gets at biological pathways that are so central to our survival."

Even if clinical studies are successful, there is still the issue of licensing, along with concerns about how long patients would need to take GLP-1. Prior to stopping their drugs, individuals who have lost weight often regained it, according to experts.

However, even with a healthy dosage of skepticism, researchers like Simmons appear optimistic, and even enthusiastic.

We just don't know if these drugs will transform how we approach addiction treatment, he said, adding that they are already altering the world.

Read next: UK gov expands weight-loss drug program to fight obesity