Medicine
fromwww.dw.com
18 hours agoNatural molecule could provide Ozempic, Wegovy alternative
New weight-loss treatments like BRP may reduce side effects compared to existing drugs by targeting appetite regulation in the hypothalamus.
"People tend to immediately think of neurons when they think about how the brain works. But we're finding that astrocytes, what we used to think of as just secondary support cells, are also participating in how our brains regulate how much we eat."
Sleep loss has become a quiet constant of modern life. It shows up in early commutes, late-night screens, rotating shifts, and a work culture that treats being reachable as a virtue. The public usually talks about the obvious costs, like fatigue and brain fog. The more consequential costs may be metabolic. When sleep is cut short, appetite often becomes harder to manage. People report stronger cravings, less satisfaction after meals, and a tendency to snack late.
Because GLP-1s reduce the reward value of fatty, sugary and salty food, as well as reduce appetite, many patients go off these foods, said Alexander Miras, a professor of endocrinology at Ulster University. The effect is similar to that in patients who have bariatric surgery, which helps them to lose weight. After bariatric surgery, there is at least a fivefold increase in endogenous GLP-1s that naturally occur in our guts.