00:00A blockbuster weight loss drug may be doing something nobody expected for mental health.
00:04A massive Swedish study of nearly 15,000 people with bipolar disorder found that semaglutide,
00:11the drug behind Ozempic and Wagovi, was linked to a 21% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalization.
00:17Researchers at Griffith University tracked nationwide health data spanning 15 years
00:22and compared periods when patients were taking the drug against periods when they weren't.
00:26Interestingly, the effect didn't show up with other similar medications like liraglutide and dulaglutide,
00:33suggesting there's something specific about semaglutide itself.
00:36Scientists think it may come down to how the drug affects inflammation and certain brain pathways,
00:42potentially helping stabilize mood and lower the risk of relapse.
00:46Bipolar disorder affects roughly 37 million people worldwide.
00:50And researchers say a proper clinical trial is the next step
00:54before doctors could ever consider prescribing it for that reason.
00:57Disclosure, this video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
