GLP-1 Medication Use Is Linked with Lower Anxiety, Depression Rates

On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Epic Research published the results of a dual-team Cosmos study, highlighting that taking certain glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may reduce the chances of an anxiety or depression diagnosis.

These drugs are prescribed and FDA-approved to promote weight loss in overweight or obese patients and manage type 2 diabetes. The benefits associated with these medications have been vast, with multiple studies pointing out their impacts on cardiovascular and mental health. Despite some of the adverse side effects of GLP-1 drugs, research, such as the data presented in this Cosmos study, may reveal benefits that prompt further use or exploration of these drugs.

Semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide are FDA-approved for weight loss and management. The remainder of the GLP-1 drugs are only indicated for diabetes management. Although trizepatide was recently approved for weight loss in November 2023, the researchers did not account for trizepatide’s effects among non-diabetic patients.

Researchers evaluated the probability of a depression or anxiety diagnosis among patients using these drugs, stratifying the data based on the type of GLP-1 drug and participants’ diabetes status and comparing it to the baseline risk of depression and anxiety of the average person not taking GLP-1 medications.

Focusing on depression, the data showed that irrespective of diabetes status, liraglutide did not correlate with a significantly different depression risk. Comparatively, non-diabetic patients taking semaglutide were 37% less likely to be diagnosed with depression, while diabetic patients taking the drug were 45% less likely to be diagnosed with depression.

In diabetic patients, exenatide use correlated with an 11% reduction in depression diagnosis. Additionally, dulaglutide was linked to a 16% reduction in depression risk. The most significant change was in diabetic patients taking tirzepatide, as researchers linked this population with a 65% lower likelihood of anxiety.

Shifting the focus toward anxiety, in non-diabetic patients, liraglutide was not associated with a significant change in anxiety risk. However, diabetic patients taking liraglutide were 13% less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety.

Semaglutide use among non-diabetic patients was linked to a 31% lower probability of anxiety. More significantly, using this drug in diabetic patients correlated with a 44% lower chance of anxiety.

Once again, the most significant difference in anxiety rates was noted among diabetic patients taking tirzepatide, linking it to a 60% reduction in anxiety risk. Comparatively, exenatide use correlated with a 24% reduction in anxiety diagnosis, and dulaglutide was linked to a 22% reduction in anxiety risk.

The data from this study suggests that GLP-1 medications may have a positive effect on mental health; however, it does not identify a causational relationship between medication use and reduced rates of anxiety and depression. More insight is needed to evaluate the factors that contribute to these correlations.