Researchers find brain cells that control semaglutide’s weight loss effects without nausea.
Some weight loss drugs work well, but they come with side effects that many people find hard to handle. Nausea, for example, is a common issue. One drug in particular, semaglutide, is already being used to help people lose weight and improve type 2 diabetes symptoms. It works by lowering appetite and helping the body use energy better. But while the drug is helpful, the side effects can make it hard to stick with treatment long-term.
Now, a new study from a research team in Sweden may bring hope for making this drug work better without causing so many problems. The scientists focused on how semaglutide affects the brain and tried to figure out which parts of the brain are responsible for the drug’s benefits, and which cause the unpleasant side effects. They used mice to run these tests and made some surprising discoveries.
The team found a group of nerve cells in the brain stem that seem to play a key part in how the drug lowers appetite and body fat. These cells are located in an area called the dorsal vagal complex. When the scientists stimulated these cells on their own—without giving the drug—the mice started to eat less and lose weight. When they destroyed these same cells, the mice didn’t respond to the drug the same way. Their appetite and fat levels didn’t drop like before.
That part wasn’t too surprising. But what really stood out was that even after the nerve cells were removed, the side effects of the drug—like nausea—still showed up. This means the cells responsible for making people feel sick are likely in a different part of the brain. So, in theory, it may be possible to treat weight problems by targeting only the helpful nerve cells while leaving the others alone. If that happens, people could get the benefits without the side effects.
The study not only helps us understand how this one drug works but also offers new ideas to improve treatments, making them safer. This could open up more ways to help people who need to lose weight but can’t handle the bad reactions that sometimes come with current drugs. Obesity isn’t just about appearance—it’s tied to serious health risks like heart disease, diabetes, and joint pain. So improving these treatments could help a lot of people live longer, healthier lives.
There’s also another side to this. The drugs being studied now, including semaglutide, are also being looked at to improve other conditions, like addiction and brain diseases. If scientists understand how these drugs work in the brain, they can figure out which brain systems to target for different conditions. In the end, this could make it easier to treat a range of problems with more precision and fewer side effects.
The research still has a long way to go. The findings from mice will need to be tested in people. But knowing which brain cells help with weight loss without causing nausea is an important step. It gives scientists a clearer picture of what’s going on in the brain and how to fine-tune treatments that already help a lot of people.
This study shows that a more focused approach could make weight loss drugs safer and easier to live with. By aiming treatments at the right brain cells, future medications might help people stay on track without making them feel sick along the way. That could make a big difference for those trying to manage their weight and overall health.
Sources:
Brain stem nerve cells hold key to safer weight loss treatments
Semaglutide effects on energy balance are mediated by Adcyap1+ neurons in the dorsal vagal complex
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