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Is metformin a geroprotector? A peek into the current clinical and experimental data
Agnieszka Zajda1, Kristiina M Huttunen2, Joanna Sikora3
1Students Research Group, Laboratory of Bioanalysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Radiopharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland.
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|September 9, 2020
Summary
Metformin shows promise as an anti-ageing drug, with cellular and animal studies indicating benefits for ageing and age-related diseases. Clinical trials are ongoing to confirm its effects on human healthspan and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Pharmacology
- Metabolic Disease Research
Background:
- Growing scientific interest in targeting ageing processes.
- Metformin, a glucose-lowering agent, exhibits cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects.
- Metformin is increasingly investigated for its potential anti-ageing properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-ageing properties of metformin.
- To explain the mechanisms and pathways involved in metformin's anti-ageing effects.
- To analyze clinical evidence on metformin's impact on healthspan, mortality, and age-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of cellular and animal studies on metformin's effects on ageing.
- Analysis of existing clinical trial data regarding age-related diseases.
- Examination of ongoing randomized clinical trials in humans.
Main Results:
- Cellular and animal studies suggest metformin has advantageous effects on ageing.
- Clinical trials indicate positive effects on the prevalence of age-related diseases (ARD) like cardiovascular disease and cancer.
- Human research is advancing with new clinical trials evaluating metformin's impact on ageing.
Conclusions:
- Metformin demonstrates potential as an anti-ageing drug.
- Further clinical trials are crucial to validate its impact on human healthspan, mortality, and ARD.
- Understanding metformin's mechanisms is key to its therapeutic application in ageing.
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