Weight-loss GLP-1 drugs linked to lower risk of age-related macular degeneration

A team led by clinical pharmacology researcher Cheng-Hsien Hung at Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan analyzed health records of 157,880 individuals with obesity, comparing those on GLP-1 drugs—liraglutide, semaglutide or tirzepatide—to patients taking other prescription weight-loss medications. Over the follow-up period, the GLP-1 cohort experienced an 18 % lower rate of age-related macular degeneration, a figure that increased to 30 % when all forms of the disease were included.

The investigators suggest the protective effect may arise from either direct anti-inflammatory actions in the retina or from the more substantial weight loss these agents produce, which can lower systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. They emphasize that the study shows an association, not definitive proof, and call for longer-term trials to clarify the mechanism. The finding arrives amid growing U.S. use of GLP-1 drugs, with one in eight adults reporting current use in a recent one outlet's poll. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have praised the drugs, while others like Sophia Umansky have highlighted side effects like hair loss.