Metformin is a widely used oral prescription drug for controlling blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, but recent studies suggest it may have additional health benefits, such as fighting cancer and obesity, and improving liver, kidney, and cardiovascular health. Some experts even believe it may increase healthy life years and extend lifespan. The drug, approved by the FDA in 1994, works by helping the body respond to insulin and lowering sugar production and absorption. Metformin is also used to manage polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and studies have shown its potential anti-aging effects.
A nationwide clinical trial called the Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) Trial will enroll over 3,000 individuals aged 65-79 to test whether metformin can delay age-related chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia. With the aging population worldwide facing increasing health challenges, finding ways to prolong healthy life years and minimize time spent with chronic conditions is crucial. The National Institute on Aging advises staying active, following a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and getting regular health screenings to maintain good health into older age.
Studies in animals have shown that metformin can increase lifespan by delaying age-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive issues. The drug improves insulin sensitivity, promotes cellular repair, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and activates AMPK and autophagy, some of the mechanisms behind its anti-aging effects. Metformin’s impact on critical processes associated with aging includes regulating nutrient sensing, maintaining proteostasis, improving mitochondrial function, and reducing cellular senescence.
By controlling blood sugar, metformin helps prevent oxidative stress, a key factor in several age-related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and muscle loss. The drug targets pathways that delay the onset or progression of age-related chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and dementia. A board-certified plastic surgeon suggested that metformin may also have beneficial effects on facial bone and skin aging by stimulating bone formation and reducing resorption, potentially improving facial contours and reducing signs of aging.
The TAME trial aims to investigate whether metformin can target overall aging instead of treating age-related diseases individually. If successful, the trial could lead to FDA approval of metformin as an anti-aging treatment for individuals without type 2 diabetes. While metformin has some side effects like stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea, the potential benefits of promoting healthy aging and reducing the burden of age-related diseases make it a promising intervention. Used under the supervision of a prescribing doctor, metformin may offer a lower-cost way to help older individuals remain healthy for longer, making it an important quality of life question worth studying.
