The buzz surrounding GLP-1s keeps getting louder, and for good reason: The medications are highly effective at treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, and are also linked to improved blood pressure and protection against heart disease. Now, newer evidence suggests that GLP-1s may help with depression and anxiety, too.
A large study, published in April in The Lancet Psychiatry, looked at health data of 95,490 Swedish people who were diagnosed with depression or anxiety and were taking some form of diabetes medication between 2009 and 2022. Researchers then followed 22,480 people in that cohort who were taking a GLP-1 med, and compared their mental health outcomes with people on other diabetes meds to see how they fared. They were looking to see if GLP-1 use was linked to a reduced risk of serious mental health outcomes—defined in this study as hospitalization or extended work leave due to mental illness, or death by suicide.
After analyzing the participants’ health data, the study authors found a strong link between GLP-1 usage and a lower risk of worsened mental health. Compared to people not taking any kind of GLP-1, semaglutide (Ozempic) was associated with a 42 percent reduced risk of worsened mental illness; liraglutide (Victoza) was associated with an 18 percent reduced risk. Semaglutide in particular was linked with significantly lower risks of worsening depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder.
Two major caveats here: First, this was an observational study, not a randomized trial. That means the researchers can’t definitively prove that GLP-1s were behind these apparent mental health benefits. The second is that the study looked exclusively at people with diabetes, as they’re at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders—making it unclear if these potential benefits would apply to people taking GLP-1s for other reasons.
This all said, these findings are consistent with recent literature on the potential benefit of GLP-1s for mental health. This type of medication has been associated with a reduced risk of certain substance use disorders, and can potentially reduce inflammation in the brain (which is thought to factor into certain mood disorders).
Is this a reason to run out and get a prescription? Not yet, particularly since GLP-1s are not approved to treat anything beyond diabetes, obesity, and obesity-related health issues. But it’s a promising find worth keeping in mind, for your mind.
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Sofia Lodato (she/her) is a staff writer at Oprah Daily. Aside from reading, writing, and wellness, she is a lover of all things media-related, and can usually be found overanalyzing her latest favorite show, album, or video game.