Popular Diabetes Drug Connected To Significantly Longer Lifespan

Metformin, a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, has been linked to a 30% reduction in mortality risk, according to a recent study. The findings contribute to increasing evidence that the widely used medication may have anti-aging benefits.

For years, metformin has been the primary treatment for type 2 diabetes patients who struggle to manage their blood sugar through lifestyle changes alone. More recently, studies have revealed that its health benefits go beyond diabetes, such as lowering the risk of dementia and easing knee pain from osteoarthritis.

Metformin Tied to Longevity in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study led by the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) has found that women with type 2 diabetes who use metformin are more likely to achieve “exceptional longevity,” defined as living to age 90 or beyond.

Researchers know that metformin activates the FOXO3 gene, which plays a key role in aging and lifespan. This gene helps regulate the body’s response to stress, particularly oxidative stress—a major contributor to aging. It also promotes cell survival, reduces programmed cell death (apoptosis), and supports DNA repair processes.

Research on the link between metformin and lifespan in both mice and humans has so far shown mixed results. Most earlier studies have focused on the drug’s relationship to mortality or disease, but none have specifically explored whether metformin contributes to exceptional longevity. To address this gap, researchers in the current study used a method called the “target trial emulation framework,” which simulates the structure of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) when conducting an actual RCT isn’t practical.

They analyzed data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), focusing on 438 postmenopausal women newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and beginning treatment with anti-diabetic medications. The WHI tracked a large U.S. cohort for over 30 years, from midlife to age 90 and beyond. Researchers compared women taking only metformin to those using only sulfonylurea, another type of diabetes medication. The researchers closely matched the two groups on age, health, lifestyle, and other factors to ensure a balanced comparison.

Starting Metformin Linked to 30% Lower Risk of Early Death in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

The study’s main finding revealed that women who began treatment with metformin had a 30% lower risk of dying before age 90 compared to those who started on sulfonylureas. Starting metformin after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis may help patients live longer than beginning treatment with a sulfonylurea.

In this first target trial emulation on metformin and exceptional longevity, the researchers found that women with type 2 diabetes who began treatment with metformin were more likely to reach advanced age than those who started with a sulfonylurea.

However, the study had key limitations. It only included women, lacked a non-diabetic control group, and did not include a placebo group—elements typically found in randomized controlled trials. Given these limitations, the researchers urge careful interpretation of their results. They also stress that the study does not prove causation and call for further research to clarify the link between metformin and longevity.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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