Health · Pharma & Biotech · 2 days ago
Researchers will study whether GLP-1 drugs affect financial decisions
GLP-1 drugs are known for helping some people lose weight, and researchers are studying whether they may also affect other urges.
A Wharton team plans to examine how the drugs relate to brain responses to spending and financial choices.
The study will use brain scans and is expected to include about 180 people.
The researchers hope to learn whether the drugs could help reduce impulsive spending, but that has not yet been shown.
Wharton researchers at the University of Pennsylvania plan to study whether GLP-1 drugs affect financial decisions.
The study will examine whether the drugs influence the brain’s reward system and reduce temptations such as gambling or compulsive shopping.
Researchers plan to recruit about 180 participants for the study at the university’s MindCORE research lab.
Participants will undergo MRI scans while completing tasks related to food and financial decisions.
The study is funded by Noom, a digital health company.
- Who
- Researchers at Wharton, including neuroscientist and professor Michael Platt.
- What
- They plan to study whether GLP-1 drugs affect the brain’s reward system and financial decisions.
- When
- The study is planned to run from mid-October through around March 2027.
- Where
- The University of Pennsylvania’s MindCORE research lab.
- Why
- Researchers want to test whether the drugs may reduce risky financial decisions and impulsive spending.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We believe GLP-1s will ultimately lead to some structural remodeling of the brain, which is where some of those long-term impacts on food choice could show up, but also on financial decision-making
It might be very good financially for the average person — maybe they're putting more money into savings
The planned Wharton study is expected to begin at the University of Pennsylvania’s MindCORE research lab.
The study is expected to run through around this time.
- Planned participants
- About 180
- Study location
- University of Pennsylvania’s MindCORE research lab
- Planned study period
- Mid-October through around March 2027
- Study funder
- Noom
Sources
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