A research team from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States conducted a first-of-its-kind study on three patients suffering from morbid obesity, in which they implanted electrodes in their brains to monitor neural activity in the "nucleus accumbens" region – the brain's pleasure and motivation center.
The researchers noted that episodes of intense preoccupation with food and unbridled cravings are associated with the appearance of low-frequency brain signals known as "delta-theta activity".
In two cases, electrical stimulation of specific brain regions reduced this activity. The third patient, who was receiving Mongaro for diabetes management after weight-loss surgery, also experienced a decrease in food cravings and a reduction in delta-theta activity. However, these signals returned after a few months.
The results suggest that the drug may affect brain signaling markers related to eating control, helping to reduce food cravings.
Mongaro is a GLP-1 receptor activator, mimicking the action of the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar and promoting feelings of satiety.
Dr. Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, commented: "The results of this study are important, but caution is advised; the research was conducted on a limited number of patients and cannot be generalized to all people."
He added: "The results are consistent with what we know about the effect of GLP-1 on inhibiting brain activity in reward areas, which reduces the 'food noise' phenomenon experienced by obese patients."
The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.