The weight loss injection Mounjaro, known for its effectiveness in managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, may alter brain activity to reduce food cravings, according to a groundbreaking study. The research highlights how Mounjaro influences neurological signals associated with eating control, potentially enhancing its role in weight management.
Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, a member of a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications mimic the effects of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, contributing to increased insulin production, lower blood sugar levels, slowed digestion, and reduced appetite. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK anticipates administering the jab to 240,000 individuals over the next three years for diabetes and obesity treatment.
Researchers in the United States conducted the first study to directly assess Mounjaro’s impact on brain activity, focusing on its effects on the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. The study involved three severely obese patients who struggled with controlling their eating habits. By implanting electrodes in the patients’ brains, scientists observed the relationship between food cravings and specific brain signal patterns.
The findings revealed a connection between intense food cravings and low-frequency brain signals, termed delta-theta activity, in the nucleus accumbens, a key area of the brain’s reward system. Notably, electrical stimulation in two of the patients led to a reduction in these signals. The third patient, who received Mounjaro for diabetes management following weight-loss surgery, also experienced decreased food cravings and a decline in delta-theta activity. However, these signals and cravings returned within a few months.
This research suggests that Mounjaro may influence food cravings by modulating brain signal biomarkers linked to eating control. Yet, caution is advised in interpreting these findings. Dr. Simon Cork, a Senior Lecturer in Physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, emphasized the need for careful consideration of the study’s limitations. He remarked, “This study specifically looked at a marker of brain activity associated with periods of ‘binge eating’ in patients with obesity associated with food preoccupation. This is important because this is a specific – and rare – condition associated with obesity.”
Dr. Cork further explained that while the research methodology is intriguing, it involves only one patient with a very specific condition. Thus, the results should not be generalized to the entire population. He noted that previous animal studies indicate that GLP-1 indeed suppresses activity in this brain region, which aligns with the reported reduction in “food noise” from patients using Mounjaro.
The findings of this study are published in the journal Nature Medicine, contributing to the growing body of evidence on the neurological effects of weight loss medications. As research in this area continues, Mounjaro’s potential to assist in managing food cravings could offer new avenues for individuals struggling with obesity and related health issues.
