Over 40% of people in the U.S. are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This figure is even higher in American women over the age of 60, with 43% considered obese.
Obesity isn’t just a weight issue – it’s linked to a variety of other health problems. Despite the urgency, there isn’t a proven pill to treat severe obesity. But now, recent research might offer some hope.
A Surprising Solution in an Unlikely Place
A study from Johns Hopkins discovered something fascinating. They found that a drug first created to treat Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and sickle cell disease might also help obesity.
And that’s not all – it could even treat fatty liver disease and improve heart function. All of this without requiring changes in eating habits or physical activity.
This study builds on earlier research by the same team in 2015. They had discovered a protein in the heart called PDE9, which was linked to heart disease caused by high blood pressure.
PDE9 is related to another protein, PDE5. This protein is blocked by drugs like Viagra. While there isn’t a specific drug for blocking PDE9 yet, several companies have created experimental PDE9 inhibitors.
These have been tested on humans for other diseases, like Alzheimer’s and sickle cell disease.
For their study, the researchers used a PDE9 inhibitor developed by Pfizer Inc., known as PF-04447943. This drug was initially tested for Alzheimer’s disease, but it didn’t work out.
However, the clinical trials found that over 100 people who took the drug had no serious side effects. Now, a different PDE9 inhibitor is being tested for heart failure.
Potential Benefits of a PDE9 Inhibitor
In their study, the researchers looked at whether blocking PDE9 could help common conditions like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, and excess body fat, particularly around the waist. The results were encouraging.
If these findings in mice can be applied to people, they could lead to significant weight loss.
For example, a person weighing 250 pounds might be able to lose about 50 pounds just by taking a PDE9 inhibitor. And they wouldn’t even need to change their eating or exercise habits.
The research was led by David Kass and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Though these are early results, they open up a promising new direction in the fight against obesity.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and blood pressure problem at night may increase Alzheimer’s risk.
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