Metformin, a widely-used medication for treating type 2 diabetes, has recently garnered attention for its potential beyond glucose control. A groundbreaking study published in the journal Cell on September 12 reveals that metformin may have significant anti-aging effects, particularly in the brain of male monkeys.
This study, conducted by a team of 43 researchers from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and other institutions, opens the door to the possibility that metformin could one day be used to delay aging in humans.
Metformin: More Than Just a Diabetes Drug
this drug has been a cornerstone in the treatment of type 2 diabetes since its use began in France in the 1950s. Derived from guanidine, a compound found in Goat’s Rue, an herb with a long history in European medicine, metformin works by lowering blood glucose levels and improving insulin sensitivity.
However, recent research has highlighted that metformin’s benefits extend beyond diabetes management. Studies have shown that it reduces the risk of cancer and has demonstrated potential anti-aging properties.
What is Metformin?
Metformin is a medication commonly prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar levels by improving the body’s response to insulin. The drug has been in use since the 1950s and is derived from guanidine, which is found in the herbal medicine Goat’s Rue.
Over time, this drug has gained recognition for its broader health benefits, including reducing the risk of certain cancers and, more recently, its potential to slow aging.
The Study: How Metformin Affects Aging in Monkeys
The study titled “Metformin Decelerates Aging Clock in Male Monkeys” is a pivotal piece of research in understanding metformin’s role in aging. Guanghui Liu, a biologist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the lead author of the study, sought to investigate the drug’s effects on aging in primates, a significant step up from previous research conducted on worms, rodents, and flies.
The research team administered this drug to 12 elderly male cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), a species commonly used in scientific studies due to its physiological similarities to humans.
A control group consisted of 16 elderly monkeys and 18 younger or middle-aged animals. The treated monkeys received the standard daily dose of metformin used for diabetes management in humans for a period of 40 months.
Throughout the study, the researchers collected samples from various tissues and organs of the monkeys, including the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, and skin. They used imaging techniques to monitor brain activity and conducted routine physical examinations.
The researchers then analyzed the cellular activity in these samples and created a computational model to determine the ‘biological age’ of the tissues. Biological age can differ from chronological age, providing insight into how well the tissues are functioning relative to their expected age.
Read : Top Ten Countries with the Highest Diabetic Population
The results of the study revealed that this drug had a notable impact on the biological aging process of the treated monkeys. The drug slowed the aging of several tissues, including those from the brain’s frontal lobe, lungs, kidneys, liver, and skin. Notably, the drug also mitigated chronic inflammation, a common marker of aging.
Impact on Brain Health
One of the most significant findings of the study is metformin’s effect on brain health. The treated monkeys exhibited neuronal activity comparable to that of monkeys six years younger.
This suggests that this drug could help preserve cognitive function and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging.
The researchers discovered that metformin activates a protein called NRF2, which plays a crucial role in protecting cells from damage caused by injury and inflammation. This activation is thought to contribute to the drug’s neuroprotective effects.
Alex Soukas, a molecular geneticist at Massachusetts General Hospital, described the study as the “most quantitative, thorough examination of metformin action that I’ve seen beyond mice.” Soukas’s comments underscore the significance of this research in expanding our understanding of metformin’s potential applications.
However, despite these promising results, experts emphasize that more research is needed before metformin can be considered a viable anti-aging treatment for humans. Soukas suggested that further studies involving a larger number of animals would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the drug’s effects.
In light of these findings, Liu and his team have initiated a new research phase. They have started a clinical trial involving 120 participants in collaboration with Merck, a biopharmaceutical company that develops and manufactures metformin. This trial aims to evaluate whether this drug can slow aging in humans, marking an important step toward potentially integrating the drug into anti-aging therapies.
Implications for Aging Research
The implications of the study extend beyond the immediate findings. If metformin proves effective in slowing aging in humans, it could revolutionize the way we approach age-related diseases and conditions. The drug’s potential to extend healthy lifespan and improve quality of life for older adults would represent a significant advancement in medical science.
The study also highlights the need for continued exploration of drugs and treatments that can address aging at a cellular level. By understanding how this drug and similar compounds affect biological aging, researchers can develop targeted therapies to mitigate the effects of aging and enhance overall health.
Metformin’s potential to slow aging, as demonstrated in the recent study involving male monkeys, opens up exciting possibilities for future research and treatment.
While it is crucial to conduct further studies to validate these findings in humans, the current results are promising. They suggest that metformin, a common diabetes medication, might one day play a role in delaying aging and improving health in older adults.
As research progresses, it will be important to monitor developments in this area and explore how metformin can be integrated into broader anti-aging strategies. For now, the study serves as a reminder of the potential hidden within existing medications and the ongoing quest to understand and combat the aging process.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏