The Miracle of Ozempic: Could a Drug be the Answer for Preparing Minds in Health and Disease?

Monday - January 1 2024, 04:02 UTC - 10 months ago

Ozempic is a drug used to treat diabetes and obesity that is showing early promise in treating a wide range of brain disorders. The drug works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that is released after a meal and can enter the brain. This has neuroscientists wondering: Can GLP-1 tweak brain function to support neurological or mental health? Animal studies are showing promising results for treating addiction with GLP-1 drugs, and human clinical trials have just started.

One inescapable word dominated biomedicine this year: Ozempic. Physicians were amazed at the drug’s efficacy in treating diabetes, for which it is FDA approved, and obesity. Social media propelled it into the year’s zeitgeist as a "miracle" weight-loss drug that can help people effortlessly shed pounds—for health or for vanity.

It’s no wonder. Diet pills have a long and tumultuous history. From amphetamine-laden "rainbow pills" to the notorious fen-phen and its deadly side effects in the lungs and heart, these pills have a killer reputation. Scientists have long searched for a safe and effective pill that curbs appetite without dangerous consequences. Though it isn’t free of side effects, Ozempic comes much closer to fitting the bill. It works its magic by mimicking the body’s natural response after a satisfying meal—it makes the user feel full. Without having to resist constant hunger, the pounds melt away.

For many people struggling with obesity, the drug is a potential lifesaver. In the U.S., an estimated 42.4% of adults are obese. Excess weight is associated with higher incidences of stroke, heart and liver disease, sleep apnea, joint problems, and some cancers. A major clinical trial this year in tens of thousands of overweight people without diabetes found the main ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, reduced the risk of stroke and heart attack, while lowering the chances of death due to cardiovascular problems. Perhaps even more importantly, the drug is gradually changing societal views on obesity—it’s not due to lack of will power, but a chronic medical condition that can be treated.

But Ozempic and similar drugs—like Wegovy, another semaglutide-based medication that has been FDA-approved for weight loss—are already set for the next chapter: tackling a wide range of brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Clinical trials are underway for addiction, and the drugs are showing early promise battling bipolar disorder and depression.

Gut to Brain .

Why would drugs useful in the treatment of diabetes and weight loss also prove effective for mood, addiction, and neurodegenerative diseases? It comes down to how Ozempic and Wegovy work. Both contain semaglutide, a chemical that mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. After a meal, as our gut senses an influx of nutrients, cells in the intestine release the hormone. GLP-1 tells the stomach to slow down how fast it’s emptying its contents. It also triggers the pancreas to release more insulin to keep blood sugar in check—maintaining a metabolic state that’s critical for brain health.

But here’s the crux. GLP-1 doesn’t just roam the gut; it also easily enters the brain. Protected by a tight-knit cellular barrier, the brain often rejects large molecules that could damage its sensitive neurons, but it readily admits GLP-1. The hormone activates neurons in a wide range of brain areas, including the "reward center" and hippocampus, which play critical roles in the regulation of mood and memory.

This has neuroscientists wondering: Can GLP-1 tweak brain function to support neurological or mental health? .

Addiction .

One tantalizing side effect of people taking GLP-1-like drugs has been a decrease in alcohol consumption. Neuroscientists have been trying to test the potential of these drugs for treating addiction. Animal studies indicate that semaglutide, in particular, could be a useful approach. When given to rats dependent on morphine or cocaine, the drug reduced cravings and eventually kept them from relapsing. The next step is to conduct clinical trials in humans, which are just starting to be launched.

This year, the world collectively held its breath as Ozempic and other members of the GLP-1 class of drugs evolved past treating diabetes and obesity, and toward tackling neurocognitive conditions. It’s exciting to consider how these drugs might one day be incorporated into catered therapies for brain health. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that science and medicine has potential for miracles.