Semaglutide use reduces biological age by 3.1 years on average, with a 9% slower pace of aging as measured by DNA methylation. Digest
The biology of aging is increasingly seen as treatable, and drugs like semaglutide—once solely used for diabetes and weight loss—may be part of the solution. A recent study found that people with HIV who took semaglutide for 32 weeks experienced up to a 4.9-year reduction in biological age, as measured by changes in DNA methylation.
The study involved 84 adults with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy—a condition marked by excess abdominal fat and faster biological aging. Participants received weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo for 32 weeks. Researchers collected blood samples at the beginning and end of the study and analyzed DNA methylation, a type of molecular tag that shifts predictably with age.
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Compared to those on placebo, participants taking semaglutide showed consistent reductions across several established epigenetic clocks, which estimate biological age from DNA patterns. One clock showed an average drop of 3.1 years, while another suggested a 9% slower pace of aging. Aging signals linked to inflammation, brain health, and heart function also declined in the semaglutide group, though measures of overall physical capacity remained unchanged.
These findings suggest that semaglutide influences more than metabolism—it may also target the molecular hallmarks of aging. Learn more about drugs like semaglutide in Aliquot #128: The Expanding Role of Weight Loss Drugs