Claims
Each claim is one testable statement that circulates about GLP-1 drugs. Under it sits every study we have linked to it, sorted by whether it supports the claim, contradicts it, or doesn't really test it.
Statuses are the collection's own assessment scale, not GRADE ratings. How they are assigned is described on the About page.
01The core question
- GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy provides a net clinical benefit to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55-75.Insufficient evidence · Evidence stable · 5 linked studies (0 for, 2 against)
02Addiction
- GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce alcohol and other substance use.Preliminary signal · Evidence strengthening · 3 linked studies (3 for, 0 against)
03Aging
- GLP-1 receptor agonists slow biological aging or extend healthspan in humans.Mechanistic only · Evidence stable · 3 linked studies (0 for, 0 against)
04Alzheimers
- GLP-1 receptor agonists slow clinical progression of Alzheimer's disease.Not supported · Evidence weakening · 2 linked studies (0 for, 1 against)
05Bone
- GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment reduces bone mineral density.Preliminary signal · Evidence stable · 1 linked study (1 for, 0 against)
06Cancer
- GLP-1 receptor agonists increase the risk of thyroid cancer in humans.Contradictory · Evidence weakening · 2 linked studies (1 for, 1 against)
- GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce the incidence of obesity-associated cancers.Preliminary signal · Evidence unclear · 1 linked study (1 for, 0 against)
07Cardiovascular
- The cardiovascular benefit of GLP-1 receptor agonists is not explained by weight loss.Probable · Evidence strengthening · 6 linked studies (4 for, 0 against)
- GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce cardiovascular events in people without obesity or established cardiovascular disease.Insufficient evidence · Evidence stable · 2 linked studies (0 for, 1 against)
- Incretin therapies improve outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity.Established · Evidence stable · 3 linked studies (3 for, 0 against)
08Dementia
- GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment reduces the risk of developing dementia.Contradictory · Evidence weakening · 6 linked studies (4 for, 1 against)
09Discontinuation
- Stopping GLP-1 therapy leads to regain of most lost weight and reversal of cardiometabolic improvements.Established · Evidence stable · 2 linked studies (2 for, 0 against)
10Gastrointestinal
- GLP-1 receptor agonists cause serious gastrointestinal and biliary adverse events.Established · Evidence stable · 4 linked studies (4 for, 0 against)
11Inflammation
- GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment reduces systemic inflammatory markers beyond what can be explained by treatment-associated weight loss.Plausible unproven · Evidence weakening · 14 linked studies (5 for, 3 against)
12Kidney
- GLP-1 receptor agonists protect kidney function in people without diabetes.Probable · Evidence strengthening · 4 linked studies (3 for, 0 against)
13Lean mass
- GLP-1-induced weight loss causes clinically meaningful loss of muscle mass or function.Plausible unproven · Evidence stable · 6 linked studies (2 for, 0 against)
14Liver
- Semaglutide improves liver histology in MASH with fibrosis.Established · Evidence stable · 1 linked study (1 for, 0 against)
15Ophthalmologic
- Semaglutide increases the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Evidence of harm · Evidence strengthening · 2 linked studies (2 for, 0 against)
16Osteoarthritis
- GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce osteoarthritis pain through mechanisms beyond weight loss.Insufficient evidence · Evidence stable · 2 linked studies (0 for, 0 against)
17Parkinsons
- GLP-1 receptor agonists slow progression of Parkinson's disease.Contradictory · Evidence weakening · 3 linked studies (1 for, 2 against)
18Psychiatric
- GLP-1 receptor agonists increase suicidal ideation or suicide.Not supported · Evidence weakening · 2 linked studies (0 for, 2 against)
19Rheumatologic
- GLP-1 receptor agonists alter the risk of autoimmune disease.Preliminary signal · Evidence unclear · 1 linked study (0 for, 0 against)