I Started Injecting a GLP-1

The short version: I started microdosing a GLP-1 drug once a week, at a fraction of the weight-loss dose, and not to lose weight. Several longevity doctors at the DaVinci 50 mastermind recommended it for wider benefits. Large trials show GLP-1s lower heart attack and stroke risk, and research points to benefits for blood sugar, fatty liver and kidneys, with early signs for the brain. I talked to my doctor first, and you should too.

I want to tell you about a decision I made recently that surprised a lot of people — including some close to me.

I started microdosing a GLP-1 drug. And I didn’t do it to lose weight.

I know what you’re thinking. Ozempic. Wegovy. The weight loss drugs everyone’s talking about. That’s not my story. I don’t need to lose weight. That’s not why I’m here.

Here’s what actually happened.

The Room That Changed My Mind

I attended the daVinci50 Mastermind — one of the most elite longevity-focused gatherings in the world, bringing together top physicians, scientists, and researchers singularly focused on scientific rejuvenation and regenerative medicine. These are not influencers. These are serious doctors doing serious work on extending human healthspan.

Multiple physicians in that room — independently — were recommending GLP-1 drugs not for weight loss, but for their systemic longevity benefits. That got my attention. When the smartest doctors in the longevity space are all pointing in the same direction, I pay attention.

I went home, did my research, talked to my doctor, and started microdosing. A fraction of the standard weight loss dose, once a week.

Here’s why.

The Real Reasons I Started — And Why You Should Know About Them

1. Heart Protection

GLP-1s have been shown in large clinical trials to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation in the arterial walls. At 71, cardiovascular protection is near the top of my priority list. This alone would have been enough to get my attention.

2. Brain Health and Dementia Prevention

Early research is showing significant reductions in Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in GLP-1 users. Some studies suggest they may even slow Parkinson’s progression. The mechanism appears to be a reduction in neuroinflammation — inflammation in the brain itself. I want to arrive at 100 with my mind fully intact. This is non-negotiable for me.

3. Blood Sugar and Metabolic Health

Even without diabetes, GLP-1s improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of ever developing Type 2 diabetes. Metabolic dysfunction is at the root of most age-related disease. Getting ahead of it before it becomes a problem is exactly the kind of proactive strategy The 200 Year Life Project is built on.

4. Liver Health

Fatty liver disease is an epidemic in our generation — and most Boomers don’t even know they have it. There are often no symptoms until significant damage has occurred. GLP-1s have shown real clinical results in reversing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This was a surprise benefit I hadn’t expected to find in the research.

5. Kidney Protection

Studies show GLP-1s slow the progression of chronic kidney disease — something that quietly affects millions of people over 60. The kidneys are one of those organs we tend to ignore until something goes wrong. I’d rather protect them now.

6. Systemic Anti-Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is at the root of almost every age-related disease we face — heart disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, arthritis, and more. GLP-1s have demonstrated broad systemic anti-inflammatory effects throughout the entire body. In the longevity world, reducing chronic inflammation is one of the highest-leverage interventions you can make.

7. Addiction, Compulsion, and Food Noise

This one surprised me. GLP-1s appear to quiet what researchers call “food noise” — that constant background mental chatter about eating. But the effects go beyond food. Studies are showing meaningful reductions in alcohol cravings and other compulsive behaviors. Researchers believe this may be related to the drug’s effects on dopamine pathways in the brain. The cognitive benefits here are just getting started.

8. Cancer Risk Reduction

Early research suggests GLP-1 users may have a reduced risk of certain obesity-related cancers. The data is still emerging, but the signal is there and researchers are actively studying it.

9. Direct Longevity and Healthspan Extension

Some longevity researchers now believe the combined metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1s may directly extend healthspan — not just lifespan, but the years you actually feel good, think clearly, and move freely. That’s the whole mission of this project.

Why Microdosing?

The side effects most people associate with GLP-1 drugs — nausea, fatigue, GI issues — are largely dose-dependent. They show up at the higher doses used for significant weight loss. At a microdose, a fraction of the standard therapeutic dose taken once a week, the side effects are minimal while many of the systemic benefits appear to carry over.

My goal isn’t to trick my body. It’s to support it. Microdosing lets me access the longevity benefits without the disruption of a full weight-loss protocol.

This Is Not Medical Advice

I want to be crystal clear — I am not a doctor, and I am definitely not your doctor. I made this decision after attending a world-class longevity conference, doing extensive research, and consulting with my own physician. GLP-1 drugs require a prescription and medical supervision.

What I can tell you is that the conversation around these drugs is shifting fast. They’re no longer just weight loss medications. The most forward-thinking physicians in longevity medicine are looking at them through a completely different lens — and I think that conversation is just getting started.

I’m tracking everything. You can follow my full protocol and data at garyleland.com/my-protocols/.

I am not a doctor and I am definitely not your doctor. Just a 71-year-old Boomer doing the research and documenting the results. Talk to your physician before starting any new protocol.

Live long and prosper,.

— Gary Leland
The 200 Year Life Project