Research into GLP-1 medicines is expanding beyond weight management and diabetes, with studies examining their potential effects on depression, cognitive function, motivation and addiction-related behaviours.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, act on receptors involved in appetite and glucose regulation. These receptors are also found in areas of the brain associated with reward and motivation, prompting researchers to investigate possible links between metabolic health and mental wellbeing.
A 2025 systematic review covering 80 randomised clinical trials and more than 107,000 participants found no evidence that GLP-1 medicines increased psychiatric adverse events or worsened depressive symptoms compared with placebo.
The US Food and Drug Administration also reported in January 2026 that its review of 91 clinical trials involving 107,910 participants, alongside real-world data covering more than 2.2 million people, found no increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviour. The European Medicines Agency reached a similar conclusion in 2024.
Further research is now examining whether GLP-1 medicines could have additional effects on mental health.
A 2026 analysis of a clinical trial investigated whether oral semaglutide could influence reward-related dysfunction in people with major depressive disorder and overweight or obesity. Another randomised trial examined cognitive function in patients with similar characteristics. Although semaglutide did not improve the primary measure of executive function, a secondary analysis suggested improvements in overall cognition.
A separate retrospective study involving more than 13,000 people with psychiatric diagnoses found that semaglutide use was associated with fewer recorded cognitive symptoms over 12 months than several comparator treatments. Researchers said further clinical trials are needed to establish whether the association represents a direct treatment effect.
Researchers are also investigating the potential relationship between GLP-1 medicines and addiction.
A 2025 clinical trial involving 48 adults with alcohol use disorder found that low-dose semaglutide reduced alcohol consumption in a laboratory setting and lowered cravings. A further 26-week trial involving 108 people with alcohol use disorder and obesity reported a reduction in heavy drinking days compared with placebo.
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