A groundbreaking new study from the United States suggests that the weight loss medication Mounjaro (tirzepatide) could help control food cravings by directly influencing brain activity.
How the Brain Study Was Conducted
In a pioneering research approach, scientists implanted electrodes into the brains of three severely obese patients to record neural activity directly. They focused on a region called the nucleus accumbens, which is associated with reward and motivation, including food preoccupation.
The study observed that the patient who was administered Mounjaro showed a significant reduction in low-frequency delta-theta brain signals. These specific signals are linked to persistent thoughts about food. This reduction coincided with a reported decline in the patient's food cravings.
A Word of Caution from UK Experts
However, the promising effect appeared to be temporary. After several months, the brain signals and the associated cravings returned. Dr Simon Cork, a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, has urged caution in interpreting these results.
He emphasised that the findings, which were published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, are based on observations from just one patient who had a specific and rare medical condition. Therefore, the results should not be generalised to the wider population using Mounjaro for weight management.
Mounjaro's Status on the NHS
Mounjaro is approved for use on the NHS for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and, under strict eligibility criteria, for weight management. The health service anticipates that the drug will be given to approximately 240,000 people over the next three years.
While this direct brain recording study offers a fascinating glimpse into how Mounjaro might work beyond just appetite suppression, experts agree that more extensive research is needed to fully understand its long-term neurological effects.
