Study finds GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may affect brain networks

BOULDER, Colorado — Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in the United States found that GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic may do more than curb appetite and reduce body weight. In some patients, the drugs were linked to a clear increase in brain networks associated with attention and focus. Researchers said brain imaging in young women detected changes in neural networks over the course of several months. The findings point to effects beyond eating behavior and suggest the drugs act on the hypothalamus as well. The study also recorded side effects in some cases, including “brain fog,” reduced feelings of pleasure and lower motivation. The researchers said these observations indicate the drugs may have broader effects on the brain than previously understood.