On December 14, Eastern time, Science magazine announced the top ten scientific breakthroughs of 2023, among which the first breakthroughs of the year are the development of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and the drugs discovered in recent years that can alleviate obesity-related health problems.
According to the official journal Science, in the United States, about 70 percent of adults are affected by excess weight, and in Europe, the figure is more than half.
This year, two landmark clinical trials further showed that GLP-1 receptor agonists originally intended to treat diabetes produced more meaningful health benefits than the weight loss efficacy later discovered.
According to reports, the drug can lead to significant weight loss, and the side effects are mostly manageable. Researchers also found in clinical trials this year that the drugs can also reduce heart failure symptoms and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. As a result, Science magazine named the GLP-1 drug the breakthrough of the year.
In addition, researchers are conducting several trials to study the drug's potential use in drug rehabilitation, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, GLP-1 currently requires long-term use to maintain its efficacy, and some patients have reported serious gastrointestinal side effects.
Annual Scientific Breakthrough Other shortlisted projects:
Earth's carbon pump is slowing down
Discover natural sources of hydrogen below the surface
Use AI to aid weather forecasting
An antibody therapy that may slow neurodegeneration in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease
Footprints of American settlers dating back 20,000 years have been discovered on the shores of an ancient lake in New Mexico
Interstellar signals from massive black hole mergers
Push for 'systemic change' in treatment of early-career scientists at global institutions
Exascale deployments of supercomputers
