Ozempic slows biological ageing markers in people with HIV

Researchers tracked ageing biomarkers in adults living with HIV who were taking semaglutide. The study found that biological age markers increased more slowly than expected in this group. People with HIV tend to age faster on average than the general population, making them a relevant group for this type of research.

What are biological ageing markers?

Biological ageing (the pace at which the body actually ages, independent of calendar age) can be measured using patterns in DNA, blood proteins, and other molecular signals. These so-called biological age clocks estimate how old the body is at a molecular level. In this study, those markers rose more slowly in people using semaglutide.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists: compounds that mimic a gut hormone that stimulates insulin release and suppresses appetite. They are approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity. That they might also influence ageing processes had not previously been demonstrated clinically in humans.

Important caveats remain

The researchers themselves stress that larger studies are needed. The current study is limited in size and was conducted in a specific patient population. Whether the finding applies to people without HIV is not yet known. A slower-rising ageing marker also measures a correlate, not direct proof of a longer or healthier life.

For longevity science, this is nonetheless a meaningful signal. GLP-1 agonists are already widely used, which makes future research into their effect on ageing practically feasible. Whether they also slow biological ageing in healthy older adults is now the pressing question.

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