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Self-reported cognitive disability among U.S. adults increased from 5.3% to 7.4% over the past decade. Rates nearly doubled for younger adults ages 18 to 39. The steepest increases occurred among people with lower incomes and less education. American Indian and Alaska Native adults reported the highest overall rates. Researchers urge deeper study into the social and economic causes behind these patterns.Growing Reports of Memory and Thinking ProblemsAn increasing share of American adults, especially those under 40, say they are struggling with memory, focus, and decision-making, according to a new study published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Challenges with memory and thinking have emerged as a leading health issue reported by U.S. adults,” said study author Adam de Havenon, MD, MS, of Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “Our study shows that these difficulties may be becoming more widespread, especially among younger adults, and that social and structural factors likely play a key role.”
Researchers examined data from more than 4.5 million annual surveys conducted between 2013 and 2023. Respondents were asked, “Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?” Those answering “yes” were categorized as having a cognitive disability. Responses from individuals reporting depression were excluded, as was data from 2020 due to the unique impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Younger Adults See the Steepest Rise
Between 2013 and 2023, the percentage of adults reporting cognitive disability climbed from 5.3% to 7.4%. The upward trend began around 2016 and was most pronounced among adults under 40, where rates nearly doubled from 5.1% to 9.7%. Meanwhile, adults aged 70 and older showed a slight decline, from 7.3% to 6.6% during the same period.

Although this survey did not directly measure clinical cognitive impairment, de Havenon noted that the rising rate of self-reported difficulties among younger adults points to an emerging public health issue.
Economic and Educational Gaps in Brain Health
Income and education appeared to play a major role in cognitive health trends. Adults earning less than $35,000 annually had the highest reported rates, increasing from 8.8% to 12.6% over the decade. By comparison, adults with incomes above $75,000 saw only a modest increase, from 1.8% to 3.9%.
Education showed a similar divide: rates among adults without a high school diploma rose from 11.1% to 14.3%, while those among college graduates increased from 2.1% to 3.6%.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Although most respondents were white, self-reported cognitive challenges increased across nearly all racial and ethnic groups: American Indian and Alaska Native adults: highest prevalence, from 7.5% to 11.2% Hispanic adults: from 6.8% to 9.9% Black adults: from 7.3% to 8.2% White adults: from 4.5% to 6.3% Asian adults: from 3.9% to 4.8%”These findings suggest we’re seeing the steepest increases in memory and thinking problems among people who already face structural disadvantages,” de Havenon said. “We need to better understand and address the underlying social and economic factors that may be driving this trend.”
“More research is also needed to understand what’s driving the large increase in rates among younger adults, given the potential long-term implications for health, workforce productivity and health care systems,” de Havenon continued. “It could reflect actual changes in brain health, better awareness and willingness to report problems, or other health and social factors. But regardless of possible causes, the rise is real — and it’s especially pronounced in people under 40.”
Researchers noted that the study relied on self-reported data from telephone surveys, meaning respondents may not have recalled all details accurately. Another limitation was the broad definition used for cognitive disability, which may capture a range of experiences rather than a specific clinical diagnosis

5 hours agoShareSaveShareSaveGetty ImagesThousands of people from some of Scotland’s most deprived areas are to be offered free weight-loss jabs as part of government-funded research.Up to 5,000 people in Scotland will take the injections as part of the multi-million pound study being led by Glasgow University.The findings will provide insight into the lives of people living with obesity and health inequalities across the UK.If successful, it could lead to a wider rollout of the injections throughout the country.The jabs copy or boost the effects of natural hormones called incretins, which control blood sugar levels.They act on areas of the brain which impact hunger and appetite and can slow down how fast the stomach empties. This may help people living with obesity regulate their eating habits.The UK government has provided an initial £650,000 for the Scotland CardioMetabolic Impact Study (SCoMIS).As a leading cause of long-term illness such as heart disease and cancer, tackling obesity will help millions live longer healthier lives and reduce the pressure on health services, potentially saving the NHS billions annually.UK Health Innovation Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “As a practicing NHS surgeon and Glasgow MP, I know firsthand the impact of the obesity crisis that plagues Scotland – and the litany of health problems it leads to.”More than 1 in 3 adults in Scotland’s most deprived areas are living with obesity. The UK government is committed to tackling inequality wherever it finds it in our country. “It’s why this landmark UK government investment is targeting help where it’s needed most in Scotland and meeting people where they are and backing helping the NHS services they trust to treat them.”Aims of the study:To test how weight‑loss medicines can be delivered effectively and fairly in everyday NHS care. To measure the level of weight loss and improvements in quality of life, particularly for patients in disadvantaged areas.To examine the impact on obesity‑related illness, NHS use, and overall healthcare costs.To explore whether better health through weight loss can help people stay in work, reduce sick leave, and take a fuller part in society.Jason Gill, professor of cardiometabolic health at Glasgow University, who is leading the study, said: “While tackling obesity requires multifactorial public health action, incretin therapies add a powerful new tool to the national obesity strategy. “The burden of obesity is greatest in the most deprived segments of society and the status quo risks widening health inequalities.”SCoMIS aims to be a landmark real‑world study evaluating a new model of obesity care, providing incretin treatment via primary and community care to Scottish adults living with obesity, with a focus on those in the most economically deprived communities.”‘Cutting-edge research’Jenni Minto, Scottish minister for public health, said the Scottish government was proud to be leading the way in tackling obesity through innovation and collaboration. “This study places patients and communities at the heart of cutting-edge research into weight-loss medicines, ensuring we build the evidence needed to deliver the greatest benefit to those who need it most,” she said.UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “Scotland has always been at the forefront of medical innovation and public health, and this initiative is further proof of the world-class expertise that can be found here.”By learning how these weight-loss medicines work, and how we can support them to reach our most deprived areas, we can slash health inequalities in Scotland and the rest of the UK so that our obesity strategy delivers a real, lasting change.”The study, which will be launched next year, also involves industry leaders Novo Nordisk and IQVIA, as well as clinical leaders at the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh.They will work out how to make best use of AI driven digital technologies to support patient access, engagement and data collection.The study will involve 3,000 to 5,000 Scottish patients living with obesity who will benefit from the medicines the most.

Disrupting communication between the body’s internal clock and the brain could help limit neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU Medicine). The study, published in Nature Aging, explored how changes in the circadian system affect brain health and memory in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.
Led by Erik Musiek, MD, PhD, the Charlotte & Paul Hagemann Professor of Neurology at WashU Medicine, and first author Jiyeon Lee, PhD, the research team investigated whether blocking a specific circadian clock protein might slow the progression of neurodegeneration. They found that inhibiting the activity of this protein lowered levels of tau, a toxic protein linked to Alzheimer’s pathology, and reduced damage to brain tissue.
REV-ERBα, NAD+, and Brain Aging
The circadian protein under investigation, called REV-ERBα, helps regulate the body’s daily rhythms of metabolism and inflammation. While its role in the brain has been less understood, earlier studies in other tissues showed that REV-ERBα influences levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a molecule vital for metabolism, energy production, and DNA repair. Declining NAD+ levels are closely associated with brain aging and neurodegenerative conditions. Many over-the-counter supplements aim to raise NAD+ as a strategy to slow aging and promote cellular health.
To test REV-ERBα’s role, the team genetically deleted the protein in two groups of mice: one in which the deletion occurred throughout the body, and another where it was removed only in astrocytes (supportive glial cells that form a major part of the central nervous system). In both cases, NAD+ levels rose significantly. The results suggest that eliminating REV-ERBα in astrocytes directly boosts NAD+ in the brain, pointing to a potential path for future treatments targeting neurodegeneration.
Drug Treatment Protects Against Tau Pathology
In a further experiment, the researchers blocked REV-ERBα using both genetic methods and a new drug that has also shown promise in studies of amyloid-β and Parkinson’s disease. This approach increased NAD+ levels and shielded the mice from tau-related brain damage. Tau aggregates are known to disrupt brain function and drive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The findings suggest that manipulating the body’s internal clock — specifically by inhibiting REV-ERBα — could represent a new way to protect the brain, prevent tau buildup, and potentially slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Forget the old idea that physical activity drains your supply of heartbeats. New research from Australia shows that people who are physically fit actually use fewer heartbeats each day, which may help them live longer.
According to the study, athletes had an average heart rate of 68 beats per minute (bpm), while non-athletes averaged 76 bpm. Over a 24-hour period, this equals roughly 97,920 beats for athletes compared to 109,440 for non-athletes — about 10 percent fewer.
“That’s an incredible saving of about 11,500 beats a day,” says Professor La Gerche, head of the HEART Laboratory supported by the St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (SVI) and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute (VCCRI).
He adds, “Even though athletes’ hearts work harder during exercise, their lower resting rates more than make up for it.”
Exercise Efficiency and Heart Health
The study, published in JACC: Advances, found that the most physically fit individuals had resting heart rates as low as 40 bpm, compared to the typical 70-80 bpm range. This means that, despite higher peaks during training, athletes still end up with fewer total beats across the day than those who are inactive.
These results challenge a long-held belief, once repeated by US President Donald Trump, that the human body is like a battery with a limited energy supply and that exercise only depletes it.

“The fitter you are, the more metabolically efficient your body becomes,” Professor La Gerche explains. “Even if you’re training hard for an hour a day, your heart beats more slowly for the other 23 hours. The net effect is fewer beats used overall.”
A slower resting heart rate is not only a sign of good physical condition but also a strong indicator of long-term health. Increasing physical activity, when done safely, can enhance heart performance and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
“Exercise is strongly linked with improved mental health, longer lifespan and lower rates of heart disease,” Professor La Gerche says.
Moderate Exercise Delivers the Biggest Benefits
Although extreme endurance events such as the Tour de France can cause temporary increases in daily heartbeats, Professor La Gerche notes that the health benefits of consistent, moderate exercise far outweigh any risks.
“The biggest bang for your health buck is going from unfit to moderately fit. Just a few hours of purposeful exercise each week can transform your heart’s efficiency and help make every beat count. It may even extend your life by years,” he says.
About the HEART Lab
Professor La Gerche leads the Heart, Exercise & Research Trials (HEART) Lab, which investigates how exercise influences heart health, in partnership with SVI and VCCRI. By studying elite athletes, the team uncovers findings that reach well beyond sports performance, offering valuable insights for people living with serious heart conditions.

More time using electronic devices or watching TV among children and young adults was linked with higher cardiometabolic disease risk, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance, based on data from more than 1,000 participants in Denmark. The association between screen time and cardiometabolic risks was strongest in youth who slept fewer hours, suggesting that screen use may harm health by “stealing” time from sleep, researchers said. Researchers said the findings underscore the importance of addressing screen habits among young people as a potential way to protect long-term heart and metabolic health.Screen time tied to early heart and metabolic risksChildren and teens who spend many hours on TVs, phones, tablets, computers or gaming systems appear to face higher chances of cardiometabolic problems, such as elevated blood pressure, unfavorable cholesterol levels and insulin resistance. The findings are reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
A 2023 scientific statement from the American Heart Association reported that “cardiometabolic risk is accruing at younger and younger ages,” and that only 29% of U.S. youth ages 2 to 19 had favorable cardiometabolic health in 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.
Danish cohorts show a consistent pattern
An evaluation of more than 1,000 participants from two Danish studies found a clear connection: more recreational screen time was significantly associated with greater cardiovascular and overall cardiometabolic risk among children and adolescents.
“Limiting discretionary screen time in childhood and adolescence may protect long-term heart and metabolic health,” said study lead author David Horner, M.D., PhD., a researcher at the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. “Our study provides evidence that this connection starts early and highlights the importance of having balanced daily routines.”
What researchers measured

The team analyzed two COPSAC groups: one of 10-year-olds followed in 2010 and one of 18-year-olds followed in 2000. They examined how leisure screen use related to cardiometabolic risk factors. Screen time included watching TV and movies, gaming and time on phones, tablets or computers for fun.
To capture overall risk, researchers created a composite cardiometabolic score based on multiple components of metabolic syndrome, including waist size, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein or HDL “good” cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels. They adjusted for sex and age. The score reflects each participant’s risk relative to the study average (in standard deviations): 0 indicates average risk, and 1 indicates one standard deviation above average.
Each hour adds up
The analysis showed that every additional hour of recreational screen time was linked with an increase of about 0.08 standard deviations in the cardiometabolic score for the 10-year-olds and 0.13 standard deviations for the 18-year-olds. “This means a child with three extra hours of screen time a day would have roughly a quarter to half a standard-deviation higher risk than their peers,” Horner said.
“It’s a small change per hour, but when screen time accumulates to three, five or even six hours a day, as we saw in many adolescents, that adds up,” he said. “Multiply that across a whole population of children, and you’re looking at a meaningful shift in early cardiometabolic risk that could carry into adulthood.”
Sleep appears to intensify the risk
Short sleep and later bedtimes strengthened the relationship between screen time and cardiometabolic risk. Youth who slept less showed notably higher risk linked to the same amount of screen exposure.

“In childhood, sleep duration not only moderated this relationship but also partially explained it: about 12% of the association between screen time and cardiometabolic risk was mediated through shorter sleep duration,” Horner said. “These findings suggest that insufficient sleep may not only magnify the impact of screen time but could be a key pathway linking screen habits to early metabolic changes.”
Metabolic “fingerprint” linked to screen use
In a machine learning analysis, investigators identified a distinctive pattern of blood metabolites that appeared to correlate with screen time.
“We were able to detect a set of blood-metabolite changes, a ‘screen-time fingerprint,’ validating the potential biological impact of the screen time behavior,” he said. “Using the same metabolomics data, we also assessed whether screen time was linked to predicted cardiovascular risk in adulthood, finding a positive trend in childhood and a significant association in adolescence. This suggests that screen-related metabolic changes may carry early signals of long-term heart health risk.
“Recognizing and discussing screen habits during pediatric appointments could become part of broader lifestyle counseling, much like diet or physical activity,” he said. “These results also open the door to using metabolomic signatures as early objective markers of lifestyle risk.”
Practical guidance from experts
Amanda Marma Perak, M.D., M.S.CI., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association’s Young Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Committee, who was not involved in this research, said focusing on sleep is a great starting point to change screen time patterns.
“If cutting back on screen time feels difficult, start by moving screentime earlier and focusing on getting into bed earlier and for longer,” said Perak, an assistant professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Adults can also set an example, she said. “All of us use screens, so it’s important to guide kids, teens and young adults to healthy screen use in a way that grows with them. As a parent, you can model healthy screen use — when to put it away, how to use it, how to avoid multitasking. And as kids get a little older, be more explicit, narrating why you put away your devices during dinner or other times together.
“Make sure they know how to entertain and soothe themselves without a screen and can handle being bored! Boredom breeds brilliance and creativity, so don’t be bothered when your kids complain they’re bored. Loneliness and discomfort will happen throughout life, so those are opportunities to support and mentor your kids in healthy ways to respond that don’t involve scrolling.”
Important caveats and next questions
Because this work is observational, it reveals associations rather than direct cause and effect. In addition, screen use for the 10-year-olds and 18-year-olds was reported by parents through questionnaires, which may not perfectly reflect actual time spent on screens.
Horner noted that future studies could test whether reducing screen exposure in the hours before bedtime, when screen light may disrupt circadian rhythms and delay sleep onset, helps lower cardiometabolic risk.
Study details, background and design The two prospective research groups at COPSAC in Denmark consisted of mother-child pairs, with analysis of data collected at planned clinical visits and study assessments from the birth of the children through age 10 in the 2010 study group and age 18 in the 2000 study group. Through questionnaires, parents of children in the 10-year-old group and 18-year-olds detailed the number of hours the young participants spent watching TV or movies, gaming on a console/TV and using phones, tablets or computers for leisure. For the 2010 group, the number of hours of screen time was available for 657 children at age 6 and 630 children at age 10. Average screen time was two hours per day at age 6, and 3.2 hours per day at age 10, representing a significant increase over time. For the 2000 group of 18-year-olds, screen time was available for 364 individuals. Screen time at 18 years was significantly higher at an average of 6.1 hours per day. Sleep was measured by sensors over a 14-day period.

Experts weigh in on whether those viral TikTok tests are a real litmus for a couple’s connection.Layne Berthoud, an occupational therapist who lives in Los Angeles, did not expect her recent TikTok post to rack up nearly 5 million views in five days.“I saw a bird today,” Ms. Berthoud, 30, tells her husband, Alexandre Berthoud, in the video. Mr. Berthoud pauses, briefly puzzled by the update.“Oh yeah?” he asks.In that moment, Mr. Berthoud, 30, unknowingly aced social media’s latest viral relationship test: the bird theory.The setup is simple. One partner points out a bird to the other — or in a common variation, recounts a fake bird encounter from earlier in the day — and awaits a response. A partner who responds with curiosity passes the test. A partner who doesn’t fails.The test is intended to measure a partner’s willingness to respond to what therapists call “bids for connection,” a concept popularized by the marriage researcher John Gottman.Dr. Gottman, who works with his wife, Julie, has long argued that the happiest couples readily and regularly acknowledge, or “turn toward,” the many hundreds of bids each person offers the other throughout the day. A classic study of his concluded that couples who stay married turn toward each other’s bids around 86 percent of the time; those who split do so only 33 percent of the time. But is the bird theory really a meaningful measure of a couple’s connectedness?We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Where you live could have a powerful influence on how your brain functions and your chances of developing dementia, according to new research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
The study, recently featured in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging (a journal of the Alzheimer’s Association), found that people residing in neighborhoods marked by greater social vulnerability, environmental inequities, and economic hardship showed measurable differences in both brain structure and activity.
“This study is consistent with other research showing that the state of the social environment in which people live can shape their brain health in profound ways,” said Timothy Hughes, Ph.D., associate professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and senior author.
How the Study Was Conducted
The researchers examined data from 679 adults participating in the Healthy Brain Study at the Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Each volunteer received brain imaging and blood testing designed to detect early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia.
Those biological results were then compared with three national tools that measure neighborhood conditions by zip code: the Area Deprivation Index, the Social Vulnerability Index, and the Environmental Justice Index. These indices assess factors such as income, housing quality, pollution exposure, and community resilience.
Clear Links Between Neighborhood Stress and Brain Changes
Participants living in areas with higher scores on these indices — indicating more social and environmental disadvantages — showed greater evidence of brain changes tied to dementia risk. These effects were most pronounced among Black participants, whose communities often face higher levels of environmental and socioeconomic strain.

The brain-related markers included a thinner cerebral cortex, white matter changes linked to vascular disease, and reduced or uneven blood flow. Such biological differences may contribute to memory problems and cognitive decline as people age.
Environment’s Lasting Impact on the Brain
“This study is one of the first to connect a variety of place-based social factors with advanced biological markers of dementia,” said Sudarshan Krishnamurthy, a sixth-year M.D.-Ph.D. candidate and the study’s lead author. “It shows that the conditions and environment in which people live — such as access to clean air, safe housing, nutritious food and economic opportunity — may leave a lasting imprint on brain health.
The findings add to growing scientific evidence that where people live and the resources available to them are not just background influences but critical factors in understanding and addressing Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
A Call for Broader Policy Action
Krishnamurthy noted that these results highlight the need for systemic change.
“If we truly want to improve brain health across all communities, we must look beyond individual choices and hone in on the broader systems and structures that shape health at the neighborhood level.”
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants F30 AG085932 and P30 AG07294) and the American Heart Association (grant 24PRE1200264).

Aging affects every part of the body, inside and out. The wrinkles and gray hair that appear on the surface often mirror similar changes happening deep within our organs. This connection suggests that aging does not occur in isolation but instead spreads throughout the body in a coordinated way. In other words, when one system begins to age, others may follow.A research team at the University of Tsukuba turned its attention to a molecule called CtBP2 while studying the biological links between obesity and metabolism. CtBP2 acts as a sensor that responds to metabolic changes, and earlier research had shown that its activity declines in people with obesity, which can contribute to metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, stimulating or activating CtBP2 has been shown to produce therapeutic effects that improve metabolism.The Tsukuba scientists explored CtBP2 in greater depth to understand its molecular behavior. They discovered that this molecule, once believed to function only inside cells, is actually released outside the cell when activated. When CtBP2 is active and present in the bloodstream, it helps maintain healthy metabolism across the body. However, when its activity is disrupted, it can trigger systemic aging and an increase in health-related issues. This finding supports the idea that aging occurs as an interconnected, body-wide process rather than a series of isolated events.After developing a method to measure CtBP2 levels in blood samples, the researchers observed that these levels tend to decline with age. People from long-lived families, however, consistently showed higher concentrations of CtBP2 in their blood. In contrast, individuals with advanced diabetes complications had notably lower levels. These results suggest that measuring CtBP2 in the blood could serve as a useful biomarker for assessing both biological aging and overall health.The researchers believe their discovery could pave the way for new ways to monitor and promote healthy aging. By using CtBP2 as an indicator, doctors and scientists may one day be able to estimate a person’s aging status and develop personalized health strategies. Future research could also explore how to safely boost CtBP2 secretion in the bloodstream to slow age-related decline and improve overall well-being.This research was supported by the Japan Promotion of Science (Grant Numbers 20K08855 and 23K18270 to M.S.), the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under Grant Numbers JP18gm5910007, JP25gm6710004 and JP22ek0210175, Takeda Science Foundation, Ono Medical Research Foundation, Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation and Japan Diabetes Foundation (to M.S.)

A new study led by a researcher at University College London (UCL) has found that the anti-obesity medication semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) may help prevent heart attacks and other major cardiovascular events, regardless of how much weight a person loses while taking it.
Researchers say this discovery points to several possible ways the drug supports heart health, suggesting that its protective effects go beyond weight loss alone.
Large Study Confirms Broad Heart Benefits
Published in The Lancet and funded by Novo Nordisk, the study analyzed data from 17,604 adults aged 45 and older who were overweight and had cardiovascular disease. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo.
Earlier results from the same international research team showed that semaglutide lowered the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other major cardiac events by 20%.
In the new analysis, scientists found that these heart benefits occurred across all body types. People who were only slightly overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 (the average BMI among UK adults), experienced similar protection as participants with obesity and much higher BMIs.
Waist Size Plays a Role but Not the Whole Story
The reduction in cardiovascular risk remained largely the same no matter how much weight participants lost during the first four and a half months of treatment. However, a decrease in waist size (waist circumference) was linked to about one-third of the heart protection seen after two years on semaglutide.

Professor John Deanfield (UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science), who led the study, explained: “Abdominal fat is more dangerous for our cardiovascular health than overall weight and therefore it is not surprising to see a link between reduction in waist size and cardiovascular benefit. However, this still leaves two thirds of the heart benefits of semaglutide unexplained.”
He added, “These findings reframe what we think this medication is doing. It is labelled as a weight loss jab but its benefits for the heart are not directly related to the amount of weight lost. In fact it is a drug that directly affects heart disease and other diseases of aging.”
Implications for How the Drug Is Used
According to Professor Deanfield, the research could change how semaglutide and similar drugs are prescribed. “You don’t have to lose a lot of weight and you don’t need a high BMI to gain cardiovascular benefit. If your aim is to reduce cardiovascular disease, restricting its use to a limited time only and for those with the highest BMIs doesn’t make sense.”
He cautioned that benefits should always be balanced with safety considerations: “The benefits need to be weighed against potential side effects. Investigations of side effects become especially important given the broad range of people this medicine and others like it could help.”
A Broader Class of Heart-Helping Drugs
Although this study focused on semaglutide, researchers believe the same results may apply to other medications that act on the same hormone system (glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1).

GLP-1 drugs may improve cardiovascular health by enhancing the function of blood vessel linings, reducing inflammation, improving blood pressure regulation, and lowering cholesterol and other fats in the bloodstream.
The analysis drew on data from the landmark SELECT trial, which is the largest and longest clinical trial to date investigating semaglutide’s effects on weight in people who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes. The trial included more than 17,000 participants worldwide and was co-led by Professor Deanfield.
Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimics the body’s natural incretin hormones that help control blood sugar after meals. It was first approved for managing type 2 diabetes.
From Diabetes Treatment to Heart Protection
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the medications Wegovy and Ozempic. Following evidence from the SELECT trial, the UK’s medicines regulator approved Wegovy for use in patients with cardiovascular disease, allowing it to be prescribed privately.
On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management clinics for weight loss. Another GLP-1 drug, Mounjaro, can be prescribed by general practitioners in England for people with a BMI of 40 or above (or 37.5 for those from minority ethnic backgrounds) and at least four of five conditions (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea).
The study authors noted that most participants were male and white. They recommended that future research on GLP-1 receptor agonists include broader representation across sex and ethnicity to better understand how different populations respond to these medications.
A preliminary analysis of the SELECT data that laid the groundwork for this research was presented by Professor Deanfield and his co-authors at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) last year.

3 hours agoShareSavePhil Shepka,Cambridgeshire political reporter and Harriet HeywoodShareSavePhil Shepka/BBC”My daughter walked into Addenbrooke’s talking, and she was wheeled out non-verbal.”A mother is demanding “accountability” from Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Trust after two failed surgeries in 2018 left her daughter with life-altering injuries.The procedures were carried out by consultant surgeon Kuldeep Stohr, who continued to practise at Addenbrooke’s Hospital until 2024, despite concerns raised as early as 2015.A Verita report, commissioned by CUH, found “a series of missed opportunities” to act on warnings. The trust has accepted the findings and apologised, adding that changes were under way.’I blamed myself’ Natasha’s daughter, Neave, was born with positional talipes, a condition causing inward-turning feet.She could hop, skip, walk and dance, but had difficulty running and at 11, had a surgery that was intended to improve her mobility.”That was probably the last time she walked and called me mum,” Natasha said of the surgery which she described as an “abject failure”.”She will never walk again.”Neave, now 18, suffers from curvature of the spine, muscle wastage, scar tissue, and deformed feet, Natasha added.”I have blamed myself a lot for agreeing to the surgery in the first place,” she said.Steve Hubbard/BBCA separate review examining about 700 planned and 100 emergency operations involving Ms Stohr, some of which were for adults, was ongoing.The Verita report concluded that earlier action from CUH could have reduced harm.One “pivotal missed opportunity” was CUH’s failure to act on a 2016 external review of the surgeon’s work, the report said.However, Natasha criticised the report as “appalling,” adding it focused more on protecting the hospital’s reputation than answering questions or holding anyone accountable.”[It] doesn’t really answer any questions and it doesn’t really hold anyone to account,” she said.”I don’t feel as if I can trust what is being said to me within that report.”Retired lawyer Radd Seiger, representing 25 affected families, said: “This was not a rogue surgeon — this was a rogue system.”He called for a judge-led public inquiry and the resignation of CUH chief executive Roland Sinker.Mr Sinker told BBC Look East he would not resign, stating the trust was implementing plans to “put patients at the heart” of future services.In a separate statement, he said he was “sorry” to hear Neave’s story and promised to meet patients to hear their feedback.”This should not have happened and we are committed to making changes so it does not happen again,” he said.The Care Quality Commission was reviewing the findings to determine if regulatory action is needed.More on this storyRelated internet links