A recent study indicates that the weight loss injection Mounjaro may significantly reduce food cravings by altering brain activity associated with eating control. This finding marks a noteworthy advancement in understanding how this medication, which is already approved by the NHS for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, functions at a neurological level.
Mounjaro, which contains the active ingredient Tirzepatide, is part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs mimic the actions of the natural hormone GLP-1, promoting insulin production, lowering blood sugar levels, slowing down digestion, and diminishing appetite. Over the next three years, the NHS plans to administer this treatment to approximately 240,000 people.
The study, which is the first of its kind, involved three severely obese patients who had difficulty controlling their eating habits. Researchers in the United States implanted electrodes in the brains of these individuals to directly examine the effects of Mounjaro on brain activity. Their focus was on the nucleus accumbens, a region linked to pleasure, motivation, and reward.
Findings revealed that episodes of intense cravings and food preoccupation correlated with low-frequency brain signals, known as delta-theta activity. Notably, in two of the patients, targeted electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain led to a reduction in this signal. The third patient, who was using Mounjaro following weight-loss surgery for diabetes management, also experienced a decline in food cravings, alongside a reduction in delta-theta activity.
Despite these promising results, experts urge caution in interpreting the findings. Dr. Simon Cork, Senior Lecturer in Physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, emphasized that the study specifically targeted a marker of brain activity related to binge eating in patients with obesity. He noted, “This is important because this is a specific—and rare—condition associated with obesity.”
Dr. Cork further explained that while GLP-1 has been shown in animal studies to suppress activity in the nucleus accumbens, the results from this human study should not be generalized to all individuals with obesity. He stated, “While this study is methodologically very interesting, it must be clear that this is only one patient with a very specific condition associated with obesity.”
The results of this research were published in the esteemed journal Nature Medicine, contributing to the growing body of knowledge surrounding the neurological impacts of weight loss treatments. As Mounjaro gains traction as a weight loss solution, understanding its effects on brain activity could pave the way for more effective obesity management strategies in the future.
Overall, while Mounjaro shows potential in altering brain signals associated with food craving, further research is essential to fully comprehend its implications for broader populations and diverse eating behaviors.
