GLP-1 Drugs Cut Psoriasis by 80% and Show Gains Against Addiction, Mental Distress, Fatty Liver
Updated
Updated · derekthompson.org · May 14
GLP-1 Drugs Cut Psoriasis by 80% and Show Gains Against Addiction, Mental Distress, Fatty Liver
6 articles · Updated · derekthompson.org · May 14
Randomized studies in recent months found GLP-1 drugs can sharply broaden their reach beyond diabetes and obesity, reducing psoriasis severity by up to 80% and showing benefits in addiction, mental distress and fatty liver disease.
Ozempic reduced heavy drinking days and overall alcohol consumption in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, while an April study of more than 100,000 people in Sweden linked semaglutide use to lower risks of worsening mental illness, self-harm, depression and anxiety.
Retatrutide, Eli Lilly’s triple-agonist candidate, cut liver fat by about 80% in a recent study, a notable result for fatty liver disease, which affects millions of Americans and still lacks an FDA-approved drug treatment.
The expansion is not universal: a Novo Nordisk-funded trial of oral semaglutide in elderly Americans did not slow Alzheimer’s decline over 156 weeks, even as drugmakers push from single- and dual-target therapies toward triple and even quintuple agonists.
Will 'do-it-all' drugs create a healthier society or one permanently dependent on pharmaceuticals?
As miracle drugs solve our physical ailments, are we ignoring the social sickness that makes us unwell?
If school phone bans just shift screen time to home, how can communities truly combat digital isolation?
GLP-1 Drugs Breakthrough: From MASH Approval to New Frontiers in Chronic Disease and Mental Health
Overview
On August 15, 2025, the FDA approved semaglutide (Wegovy) as one of the first medications specifically for adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis due to MASH, a condition marked by excessive scar tissue in the liver. This approval is for noncirrhotic patients and requires use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Semaglutide’s new indication highlights a major advance in treating chronic liver disease, expanding its role beyond diabetes and obesity. This milestone signals a new era in metabolic disease management, offering hope to patients with limited treatment options.