Common Diabetes drug may help slow the aging process

Metformin has been used for decades and is included on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines. Despite its long history in diabetes treatment, recent research suggests that the drug’s mechanisms of action may be more complex than previously understood, prompting scientists to investigate its potential effects on aging and longevity.

In a research review published in the journal Aging, a team of researchers examined the available evidence on metformin and the ways in which it may influence biological processes associated with aging.

One of the drug’s most notable effects is linked to the activation of an enzyme known as AMPK, which plays an important role in regulating cellular energy. Studies also suggest that metformin may inhibit the mTOR pathway, thereby promoting autophagy—a process through which cells remove damaged or unnecessary components and recycle their building blocks.

These effects may help reduce oxidative stress, improve insulin sensitivity and preserve cellular function, processes associated with better health as people age. Animal studies have shown that some of these mechanisms may be linked to increased lifespan, but it remains unclear whether the same effects occur in humans to a similar extent.

Potential Effects on Genes and the Gut Microbiome

Research into metformin is not limited to processes within cells. Scientists are also investigating its effects on genes and the gut microbiome.

Preliminary findings suggest that the drug may influence certain epigenetic changes associated with aging and could alter the composition of gut bacteria in ways that help reduce inflammation and improve intestinal and metabolic health.

In a previous study, researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes who used metformin showed genetic markers associated with slower biological aging compared with individuals who did not take the drug. The estimated difference was between 2.7 and 3.4 years.

However, these findings do not prove that metformin actually slows aging. The study involved only 32 patients, while many other studies have relied on observational data or animal experiments. As a result, there is currently no conclusive clinical evidence that metformin extends human lifespan or delays aging in healthy people.

Major Trial Seeks to Test Metformin’s Anti-Aging Potential

Attention is now focused on the Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) study, which aims to investigate the effects of the drug in around 3,000 participants across 14 research institutions in the United States over a six-year period.

Rather than focusing on a single disease, the study seeks to determine whether metformin can delay the onset of a range of age-related diseases.

Researchers say large-scale clinical trials will be essential for determining whether the promising effects observed in earlier studies can translate into proven health benefits in humans.

Until such evidence becomes available, metformin remains an established treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, while its potential to slow aging and extend lifespan remains a promising but unproven area of research.