Health and Me

Ishita Roy

GLP-1 Drugs Don’t Just Curb Appetite; They Rewire the Brain, Shows Study

In a breakthrough investigation published in <em>Nature Medicine</em> found that GLP-1 medicines are not just <span>weight loss drugs</span>, but actually brain reprogramming drugs. The study highlighted how deeply GLP-1 medications influence our brain's reward circuits, cravings, and the electrical rhythm. 

The study took a 60-year-old woman who had a lifelong "food noise", and underwent deep-brain stimulation that targeted the nucleus accumbens, which is brain's craving centre. The woman was also to start tirzepatide, an antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight loss, which is an active ingredient in Mounjaro. As she reached her full dose, her compulsive food thoughts went silent, however, five to seven months later, the neutral signal returned before her cravings did, while she was still on the medication.

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, monitored brain activity directly from the nucleus accumbens in people using tirzepatide. 

The research followed three patients with severe food preoccupation and uncontrolled eating. Two underwent deep-brain stimulation, while the third received tirzepatide and also had electrodes implanted around the same time. When cravings or intense food thoughts occurred, researchers observed strong delta-theta waves in the nucleus accumbens. These slow brain signals are linked to reward, motivation, and compulsive eating.

Once the patient on Mounjaro reached the full therapeutic dose, the changes were dramatic: for nearly four months, they reported almost no episodes of “severe food preoccupation.” Their delta-theta activity also fell to very low levels, even during moments when cravings typically occurred. However, while initially there was a suppression in the brain activity that triggered cravings, the cravings returned over time. 

This is the first time scientists have been able to directly record craving-related brain activity in real time and compare it before and after using a medication like Mounjaro. Although the study involved only three people, the findings help explain why medications in this class appear to influence more than just appetite. They may also reshape how the brain processes reward and desire around food.

The researchers say larger studies are needed, but early signs point to a clearer understanding of how obesity drugs change both behavior and brain biology.

Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in Physiology, Angila Ruskin University said that there must be some caution that should be applied while looking at the findings of the study. 

Dr Cork says, "This study specifically looked at a marker of brain activity associated with periods of “binge eating” in patients with obesity associated with food preoccupation. This is important because this is a specific (and rare) condition associated with obesity. They found that in three patients, periods of intense preoccupation with food was associated with a characteristic change in brain activity in a region of the brain associated with reward...While this study is methodologically very interesting, it has to be clear that this is only one patient with a very specific condition that is associated with obesity and so shouldn’t necessarily be generalised to the entire population.”

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In a breakthrough investigation published in Nature Medicine found that GLP-1 medicines are not just weight loss drugs, but actually brain reprogramming drugs. The study highlighted how deeply GLP-1 medications influence our brain's reward circuits, cravings, and the electrical rhythm. Case StudyThe study took a 60-year-old woman who had a lifelong "food noise", and underwent deep-brain stimulation that targeted the nucleus accumbens, which is brain's craving centre. The woman was also to start tirzepatide, an antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight loss, which is an active ingredient in Mounjaro. As she reached her full dose, her compulsive food thoughts went silent, however, five to seven months later, the neutral signal returned before her cravings did, while she was still on the medication.How Was The Study Conducted?Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, monitored brain activity directly from the nucleus accumbens in people using tirzepatide. The research followed three patients with severe food preoccupation and uncontrolled eating. Two underwent deep-brain stimulation, while the third received tirzepatide and also had electrodes implanted around the same time. When cravings or intense food thoughts occurred, researchers observed strong delta-theta waves in the nucleus accumbens. These slow brain signals are linked to reward, motivation, and compulsive eating.Once the patient on Mounjaro reached the full therapeutic dose, the changes were dramatic: for nearly four months, they reported almost no episodes of “severe food preoccupation.” Their delta-theta activity also fell to very low levels, even during moments when cravings typically occurred. However, while initially there was a suppression in the brain activity that triggered cravings, the cravings returned over time. Why Does This Matter?This is the first time scientists have been able to directly record craving-related brain activity in real time and compare it before and after using a medication like Mounjaro. Although the study involved only three people, the findings help explain why medications in this class appear to influence more than just appetite. They may also reshape how the brain processes reward and desire around food.The researchers say larger studies are needed, but early signs point to a clearer understanding of how obesity drugs change both behavior and brain biology.What To Keep In Mind?Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in Physiology, Angila Ruskin University said that there must be some caution that should be applied while looking at the findings of the study. Dr Cork says, "This study specifically looked at a marker of brain activity associated with periods of “binge eating” in patients with obesity associated with food preoccupation. This is important because this is a specific (and rare) condition associated with obesity. They found that in three patients, periods of intense preoccupation with food was associated with a characteristic change in brain activity in a region of the brain associated with reward...While this study is methodologically very interesting, it has to be clear that this is only one patient with a very specific condition that is associated with obesity and so shouldn’t necessarily be generalised to the entire population.”