Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mono-agonists on reward processing in animal models: a systematic review
- Design
- Systematic review · Surrogate outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Not human evidenceVERY_INDIRECT: all included evidence comes from animal models.
- Could weight loss explain it?
- PossiblyPossibly: food intake and locomotor activity also fell, so reward findings may be entangled with reduced intake or activity; no separation is reported.
- Study tier
- Not ratedNOT_RATED: a systematic review of 66 preclinical animal studies with no pooled estimate.
- Assessment
- Version 3 · Two reviewers differed; settled by a recorded ruling · Oct 19, 2026
Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.
This systematic review gathered 66 animal studies on how GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor agonists affect reward-driven behaviour for food, drugs and sex. Across studies, drugs such as exenatide, liraglutide, semaglutide and dulaglutide tended to reduce food intake, substance intake and reward-seeking, but also reduced locomotor activity and sexual behaviour. These are animal findings and do not show effects in people.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Glp-1 receptor agonists
- Dose
- various
- Comparator
- not reported in abstract
- Primary outcome
- food-, drug- and sexual-related reward in animal models
- Effect
- GLP-1 and GLP-1RAs reduced food intake, substance use and reward-seeking in animals; exenatide and liraglutide effects p < 0.05; semaglutide reduced substance and sucrose intake and dulaglutide reduced substance intake (p < 0.001)
- 95% confidence interval
- not reported in abstract
- P value
- p < 0.05 (exenatide, liraglutide); p < 0.001 (semaglutide and dulaglutide statement)
- Follow-up
- Not stated
- Adverse events
- not reported in abstract
- Limitations
- A review of animal studies only, with no pooled estimates or quality assessment described in the abstract; reductions in locomotor and sexual behaviour make the findings hard to read as benefit or harm for people.
Who was studied
- Obesity status
- not reported in abstract
- Diabetes status
- not reported in abstract
- Cvd status
- not reported in abstract
- Ckd status
- not reported in abstract
- Baseline condition
- animal models of food-, drug- and sexual-related reward
- Inclusion exclusion
- preclinical studies of GLP-1 or select GLP-1RAs and reward function
Study quality details
- Study design
- Systematic review
- Sample size
- not extracted
- Randomization
- n/a
- Blinding
- n/a
- Comparator
- not reported in abstract
- Follow up duration
- not stated
- Outcome type
- surrogate
- Replication
- not assessed
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed
- Population applicability
- VERY_INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- no CI reported; p-values only
- Risk of bias
- not assessed
- Funding conflicts
- unclear
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- not reported in abstract
- Industry funded
- Unclear
- Manufacturer
- not stated in source
- Sponsor role
- not reported in abstract
- Author conflicts
- not reported in abstract
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
[INTRODUCTION] Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), indicated in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, influences reward processing, integral to disparate mental disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that GLP-1 receptor mono-agonists (GLP-1RAs) are potential treatment strategies for select mental disorders. Herein, we systematically review preclinical research documenting how GLP-1 and GLP-1RAs may impact reward function. [METHODS] Relevant studies were identified through Web of Science, OVID (MedLINE, Embase, PsycInfo), and PubMed from database inception to June 28, 2026. Preclinical research investigating the association between GLP-1 and select GLP-1RAs and reward function was included. Reward functions assessed were food-, drug-, and sexual-related reward. [RESULTS] A total of 66 studies met inclusion and were synthesised herein. Taken together, results indicate that GLP-1 and GLP-1RAs affect measures of food-related, drug-associated, and sexual behaviours. GLP-1 administration was associated with a reduction in food intake and gross locomotor activity with respect to approaching and engaging in reward-seeking behaviours. When locally administered in selected brain regions of evaluated animal models, exenatide was associated with reduced substance use, food seeking, and sexual behaviours (p < 0.05). Similarly, liraglutide was observed to attenuate substance and food-related rewards (p < 0.05). In addition, semaglutide was demonstrated to reduce substance and sucrose intake, while dulaglutide is reported to reduce substance intake (p < 0.001). [DISCUSSION] Extant preclinical findings demonstrate a trend toward reductions in reward-associated behaviours following GLP-1RA administration. Our findings can also provide rationale and impetus for evaluating GLP-1RAs in the treatment of psychiatric disorders characterised by disturbance in hedonic function and behaviours.
Where this record came from
| Source | Retrieved | Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| pubmed | Oct 18, 2026 | 42870759 first ingestion |