Groundbreaking Trial Shows Ozempic and Wegovy Can Slow Biological Aging in Humans

A widely prescribed class of weight-loss and diabetes medications may be doing more than improving metabolic health — new clinical evidence suggests they can slow the biological aging process itself.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 108 adults with HIV, researchers from UC San Diego found that semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — slowed several key markers of biological aging over a 32-week period. The results, published in Nature Communications, mark the first randomized clinical evidence that a GLP-1 receptor agonist can influence the molecular pathways that drive aging.

To measure aging, the team used epigenetic clocks — tools that analyze DNA methylation patterns to estimate biological age, which often differs from chronological age. People whose biological age exceeds their actual age face higher risks of disease and early mortality. Adults living with HIV frequently experience accelerated biological aging due to chronic inflammation, even when the virus is well controlled.

Two findings stood out. Participants who received semaglutide showed a 9% slowing in their pace of aging according to the DunedinPACE epigenetic clock. Measurements from the PCGrimAge clock also showed significant reductions in biological processes linked to age-related disease and all-cause mortality risk. These results suggest semaglutide may counter some of the effects of chronic inflammation across multiple organ systems, including the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, blood, and metabolism.

While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, researchers point to several possible pathways. Semaglutide is known to reduce systemic inflammation, improve metabolic function, and promote weight loss — all factors independently linked to slower biological aging. The study opens the door to further investigation into whether GLP-1 drugs could play a role in preventing age-related diseases beyond their current use for diabetes and obesity.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by Dr. Michael Corley, associate professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging. The team is now planning larger trials to investigate whether these anti-aging effects extend to broader populations without HIV.