PLEIOTROPIC EFFECTS OF GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been transformative in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity. Advances in drug design have improved their bioavailability, allowing effective glucose control and weight loss with minimal side effects. Studies have demonstrated that GLP-1RAs, beyond their metabolic benefits, exert protective effects in multiple pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, liver disorders, kidney disease and neurodegeneration . Cardiovascular benefits include enhanced myocardial function, reduced atherosclerosis, improved endothelial health and a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, alongside improved insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. In the liver, GLP-1RAs ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by decreasing hepatic fat, inflammation and oxidative stress. In diabetic kidney disease, they exert renoprotective effects through anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and antihypertensive mechanisms. Emerging evidence also suggests neuropsychiatric benefits, including reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, decreased substance use and lower risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other dementias, likely mediated by modulation of neurotransmitter systems and neuroinflammation. This review summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrating the multifaceted effects of GLP-1RAs across multiple organ systems.