Aging is a natural process that occurs in all living creatures, seemingly inevitable and inescapable. Yet, it is a collective dream of humanity to somehow avoid the deterioration caused by old age, including declining brain function, chronic illnesses, and organ failure. For decades, scientists have been exploring ways to slow down the aging process in the hope of extending lifespans and improving the quality of life. Now, we may be closer than ever to finding an answer. It’s called “metformin”.
Metformin is a compound derived from a guanidine derivative and has been used for more than 60 years to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that it slows physiological aging in animal models such as worms, fruit flies, and rodents. Recently, a group of Chinese scientists performed a 40-month study to determine whether metformin can delay aging in primates.
In this study, published in Cell, the researchers administered a daily dose of metformin to a group of 13-to-16-year-old male macaques for more than three years. The results showed that the metformin-treated group demonstrated better memory and learning abilities compared to the control group. Their brain morphology also looked different—the metformin-treated group had a thicker cortex in the frontal and temporal lobes, which are important for cognitive function. This data suggests that metformin might postpone structural deterioration of the brain, thereby enhancing memory and learning.
The anti-aging effects of metformin were not limited to the brain. The researchers found significant age reversal in other tissues, including the lungs, kidneys, liver, skin, and muscles. Specifically, in the liver, metformin slowed the decline in key functions and reduced markers of fibrosis and inflammation. Furthermore, metformin treatment reduced chronic inflammation, which is a hallmark of aging and contributes to most aging-related diseases.
Additional studies suggested that metformin can effectively turn back time at a molecular level. Transcriptomic profiling showed that metformin was able to partially revert gene expression to resemble a younger biological age. Using multi-omics data, the researchers established computational models of the monkey “aging clock” and concluded that metformin treatment delayed aging by 5–6 years (equivalent to 15–18 years in humans).
How does metformin slow down aging? The researchers found that the drug activates a nuclear factor called Nrf2, which regulates cellular antioxidant responses. Nrf2 activation protects against cellular damage triggered by injury and inflammation, which explains how metformin decelerates aging in neurons and improves brain function.
This study is the first to demonstrate the anti-aging effects of metformin in primates. While the results are promising, many questions remain. As only male monkeys were used in this study, it is unknown whether the effect will be the same in females. The study also did not address whether metformin increased lifespan or whether there are any long-term side effects.
The biggest question of all: will metformin slow down aging in humans? Can it be the “magic pill” that makes us younger and improves our quality of life? The researchers have already started a human clinical trial to answer these questions. As we await the results, there is hope that new therapeutic approaches to help us live longer and healthier lives may be on the horizon.
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