As early as 2022, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, publicly responded to netizens’ inquiries about his weight loss secrets: fasting and Wegovy. He claimed to take a weekly semaglutide injection and stated that addressing obesity can significantly reduce the risk of other diseases and improve quality of life. He said nothing can improve Americans’ health, life expectancy, and quality of life more cost-effectively than the GLP-1 drug (semaglutide).
Semaglutide, long known for its treatment of diabetes and obesity, has recently been shown in a trial to have significant anti-aging effects in some individuals.
The trial, organized by the TruDiagnostic Aging Laboratory in Kentucky, reportedly involved 108 patients with HIV-related dyslipidemia in the 32-week clinical trial. This special population, characterized by accelerated aging, metabolic dysfunction, and persistent inflammation, is considered an “ideal model for anti-aging assessment.” The trial randomly assigned participants to either semaglutide or a placebo, who received weekly subcutaneous injections. The semaglutide dose was gradually increased from 0.25 mg to 1.0 mg. At 32 weeks, participants’ biological age was assessed using an epigenetic clock to measure DNA methylation levels in their blood.
The experimental data showed that participants in the semaglutide group experienced a significant reduction in biological age. Notably, some participants experienced a nearly five-year reduction in heart and brain age, which is strongly associated with reduced risk of disease and improved physical function.
While the anti-aging effects of semaglutide are encouraging, the study leader cautioned that this trial was conducted in a specific HIV population, and there is no definitive data supporting its effectiveness in all populations. It is premature to recommend the drug for anti-aging purposes.
Recent data on “benefits” (benefits-activating, new) substances in the anti-aging market indicate that their core ingredient, Ca-AKG, is already present in the human body and has demonstrated similar effects in clinical trials to semaglutide. Brian Kennedy, known as “Singapore’s Anti-Aging Guru,” conducted a clinical trial on Ca-AKG, involving 42 volunteers with an average age of 63. For seven months, participants took two 1g Ca-AKG tablets daily.
After seven months, their biological age was measured using the same methylation clock. The results showed an eight-year difference in the average biological age of the 42 participants. Physical strength and energy, which are closely related to cardiovascular and liver function, also improved. Professor Kennedy has now applied these findings to a new class of anti-aging substances.
From treating diabetes to treating obesity and now to delaying aging, the development of semaglutide reflects humanity’s enduring pursuit of health and longevity, and offers new research directions in the field of anti-aging medicine. Thanks to continuous breakthroughs in medicine, the human desire for healthy aging will eventually become a reality.