From the treatment of diabetes to the magic weapon of losing weight, to the possible improvement of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and even depression and anxiety ..

Actually, semaglutide is not a novel invention.

Its story begins in the 1980s, when scientists discovered a natural hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide-1).

This substance is naturally secreted after we eat, helping to regulate blood sugar, slow down gastric emptying, and make it easier for people to feel full.

Later, pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk developed drugs that mimic the action of GLP-1 based on this, such as Liraglutide, which was launched in 2010, and the long-acting version of Smeaglutide, which was launched in 2017.

At first, it was only approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and a weekly injection was enough.

But doctors soon noticed that not only did the patient's blood sugar control improve, but their weight also significantly decreased.

So, a higher dose version of Wegovy was approved in 2021 specifically for the treatment of obesity. Data shows that sticking to medication for one year can result in an average weight loss of about 15%.

This is already quite impressive.

But what's even more surprising is that its benefits seem to go beyond just "losing weight".

For example, large-scale clinical studies have found that patients with cardiovascular disease who use semaglutide have a nearly 20% reduced risk of heart attack or stroke.

Interestingly, this protective effect does not solely rely on weight loss - that is to say, even if the weight does not change much, the heart condition may improve.

What is the reason for that? More and more research is pointing to a key keyword: anti-inflammatory.

Chronic inflammation is a common soil for many diseases - arteriosclerosis, fatty liver, arthritis, and even neurodegenerative diseases are all related to it.

Simeglutide has been found to regulate immune responses, reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit the activity of certain inflammation related genes.

Simply put, it is like a "gentle mediator" that helps the body suppress excessive inflammatory reactions without completely "lying flat" the immune system (which can actually lead to infection or cancer).

That's why scientists are starting to try to apply it to more fields:

Studies have shown that similar drugs such as liraglutide can halve the rate of brain atrophy and significantly slow down cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease patients;

Another real world data involving millions of diabetes patients even suggests that people who use smeglutide will have a 70% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease than those who use insulin in the future;

Some people are exploring its potential for inflammation related diseases such as asthma, psoriasis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Of course, most of these findings are still in the early stages and cannot be directly equated with a 'cure'.

Moreover, these types of drugs are expensive (possibly thousands of dollars per month in the United States), and side effects such as nausea and constipation are not uncommon, making them not suitable for everyone.

More importantly, it was never designed for "anti-inflammatory" purposes - initially it was just a tool used by endocrinologists to control sugar.

Its multifaceted effects are more like unexpected gains in medicine. As a researcher once said, "We may just have uncovered the tip of the iceberg

So, in the face of the halo of "miracle drugs", it is important to maintain rationality. Simeglutide does bring revolutionary hope, but it is not magic, let alone a master key.

True health still relies on a balanced diet, regular exercise, and scientific management. Medication can be helpful, but it should not become a dependency.