Neurobehavioral, Molecular and Metabolic Impacts of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide in Obesity: A Bidirectional Translational Study Across Rodent Models and Human Outcomes
Description: Childhood obesity is a chronic, multifactorial condition and one of the most pressing public health challenges of the 21st-century associated with cognitive impairments and hippocampal dysfunction. Obesity often results from excessive intake of high-caloric diets rich in fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Despite the recent approval of semaglutide and tirzepatide for adult obesity, their neurobiological effects –particularly during adolescence remain poorly understood. This Ph.D. project adopts a translational approach to assess cognitive, emotional, neuroinflammatory, and metabolic effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide in a preclinical diet-induced juvenile obesity model. Concurrently, a clinical cohort of obese adults initiating treatments will be monitored for well-being, cognitive, psychological, metabolic, and inflammatory outcomes. This project aims to identify mechanisms linking these treatments to brain-health, anticipating future pediatric application. By bridging preclinical and clinical research, it addresses unmet therapeutic needs and advances understanding of obesity-related brain alterations across lifespan, providing a valuable proof-of-concept for future pediatric use.
Amount: €20,890
Funding type: grant
Funder scheme: FCT
Start date: 2025-09-01
End date: 2029-02-28
Investigator: Bárbara Caetano da Mota
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 2025.03083.BDANA
OpenAlex ID: G128015478