Can GLP-1 drugs help people stop throwing away their money?
Researchers will explore whether weight-loss drugs can deter risky or impulsive financial decisions. "It might be very good financially for the average person," one neuroscientist said.
A new study led by experts at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania aims to determine if GLP-1 drugs could help people make better financial decisions by reducing impulsive behaviors such as gambling or compulsive shopping. Michael Platt, a neuroscientist and professor at Wharton, believes that GLP-1s may lead to structural changes in the brain that impact both food choices and financial decisions.
The first-of-its-kind study will examine how GLP-1s influence the body's reward system, which is responsible for reinforcing certain behaviors, to see if the drugs suppress temptations that are difficult for people to control. If successful, GLP-1s could help Americans resist risky financial decisions and develop better spending and saving habits.
The researchers posit that GLP-1s might make people more responsible decision-makers through an injection, a habit that might otherwise take years to develop. The study will recruit about 180 participants who will undergo magnetic resonance imaging while performing tasks related to food and financial decisions.
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