GLP‑1 medicines such as semaglutide (sold as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus) are used to treat diabetes and obesity. New research shows they may also help the mind.
People who are overweight or have diabetes often feel more sad or worried. At the same time, those with mental‑health problems can gain weight or develop diabetes. Scientists wanted to see if a drug for the body could also lift the mood.
Researchers looked at almost 100,000 Swedes from 2009 to 2022. More than 20,000 of them had taken a GLP‑1 drug. The data came from national health records.
Fewer Visits to Psychiatric HospitalsWhen people used semaglutide, they went to the psychiatric hospital 42 % less often than when they were not on the drug. Their chance of getting diagnosed with depression dropped by 44 %, and anxiety went down by 38 %.
Lower Substance‑Use and Suicide RisksHospital care for substance‑use problems was 47 % lower during treatment periods. The drug was also linked to a smaller risk of thoughts or actions related to suicide.
Why Might the Drug Help the Brain?The researchers are not sure yet. It could be that losing weight improves body image, better blood‑sugar control lifts mood, or the drug directly changes brain pathways that control reward and pleasure.
More Study Is NeededThe results were published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Earlier studies were smaller and gave mixed answers. This large analysis gives stronger proof, but scientists say more work is required to understand exactly how GLP‑1 drugs affect mental health.