Scientists at Syracuse University have found a new way to help people lose weight without the stomach problems caused by current drugs. Many popular weight loss and diabetes drugs, like GLP-1, cause nausea and vomiting, making 70% of users quit within a year.
Now, Professor Robert Doyle and his team of scientists are studying a different part of the brain. So, instead of focusing only on neurons, they are looking at support cells called glia and astrocytes. These cells may help control hunger more gently. A past study showed that some tiny cells in the brain, known as support cells, may be able to produce special substances that reduce hunger without causing stomach problems. This means people can lose weight without feeling sick. If this works well, it could bring a new way to treat obesity and diabetes, but researchers are highly hopeful that this discovery will make weight loss easier.
