In an unexpected twist, the same weight loss drugs that have gained attention for their effectiveness in managing obesity and diabetes could soon be used to treat depression
. A groundbreaking study involving nearly 30,000 patients has found that these medications, including popular treatments like Wegovy and Ozempic, may have an antidepressant effect.
The Potential for a New Mental Health Therapy
Researchers have begun to explore the idea that these drugs, originally developed to treat diabetes, might also be beneficial for mental health.
According to Riccardo De Giorgi, a clinical researcher at the University of Oxford, there is growing evidence that these medications are linked to a lower risk of depression.
De Giorgi, who specializes in the effects of these drugs, says there is real potential for them to be used as a treatment for depression in the future.
How the Medications Work
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide, which belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1RAs.
These drugs have been shown to effectively control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and they are also responsible for significant weight loss.
They work by mimicking a hormone that regulates feelings of fullness and helps suppress appetite.
But the benefits don’t stop there—studies have also shown that they can reduce the risk of serious conditions like heart disease and even dementia.
Concerns Over Abuse for Cosmetic Reasons
While these drugs are proving to have broad health benefits, concerns have arisen in recent months about people misusing them for purely cosmetic purposes.
Some individuals are using the injections to stay extremely thin, and celebrities such as Demi Moore, who displayed a notably slimmed-down figure at the SAG Awards, have sparked debates about this trend.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and NHS England’s medical director, Sir Stephen Powis, have both warned against using the injections for body image goals rather than legitimate health concerns.
Findings from the University of Florida Study
The new study from the University of Florida focused on diabetic patients aged 66 and older.
Researchers compared the levels of depression in patients treated with GLP-1RAs against those treated with two other common diabetes drugs.
The results were striking—patients on the GLP-1RAs reported fewer symptoms of depression than those on other diabetes medications, like dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is), also known as gliptins.
These findings suggest that GLP-1RAs could play a significant role in treating both diabetes and depression, especially in older adults.
Implications for Diabetes and Depression Management
The researchers believe these results could have important implications for how both diabetes and depression are managed, particularly in older adults.
However, current NHS guidelines only allow GLP-1RAs to be prescribed for patients with obesity or diabetes, so this new finding could lead to a reconsideration of treatment guidelines for older patients.
The Link Between Diabetes, Depression, and Inflammation
Professor David Strain, an expert in cardiometabolic health at the University of Exeter, has expressed little surprise at the findings, noting that previous studies have shown that depression and type 2 diabetes are often linked.
A study conducted by Diabetes UK in 2023 revealed that people with depression were twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
Professor Strain believes that patients who are older, overweight, and have diabetes could benefit from these drugs, as depression is a common issue among them.
He also added that current guidelines prevent the use of GLP-1s for older patients, suggesting that it may be time to re-evaluate this stance.
Reducing Inflammation and Its Impact on Depression
Researchers believe that the antidepressant effects of GLP-1RAs may be related to their ability to reduce inflammation.
According to De Giorgi, these drugs are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which could be beneficial in treating depression, as brain inflammation has been linked to mental health conditions.
In fact, earlier research from the same team showed that reducing brain inflammation could also lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
No Increased Risk of Suicide
Despite earlier concerns about the potential link between GLP-1RAs and increased suicide risk, experts are now confident that the evidence does not support this claim.
De Giorgi pointed out that the initial studies suggesting a connection between these drugs and suicidal thoughts were not accurate.
As more research has been conducted, it’s become clear that these medications do not increase the risk of suicide, which is a crucial development in understanding their safety profile.
This new research opens up exciting possibilities for using weight loss drugs not just to treat obesity and diabetes, but also to help individuals struggling with depression, offering a potential new avenue for mental health treatment in the future.