METAFORMIN:
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOY
NEWS: How
a low-cost diabetes drug metformin can slow ageing in male monkeys
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The scientists have said
much more research would be required before metformin can be approved as an
anti-ageing compound in humans.
Study Details:
·
Published
on September 12 in Cell, conducted by 43 researchers, involving elderly
male cynomolgus macaques treated with metformin for 40 months.
Key Findings:
- Neuronal activity in
metformin-treated monkeys resembled that of younger monkeys.
- Slowed biological aging in
organs like lungs, kidneys, liver, skin, and brain.
- Reduced chronic inflammation
and activated the NRF2 protein, which protects against cellular damage.
Metformin Background:
- Used for type 2 diabetes
since the 1950s.
- Derived from guanidine in
the herb Goat’s Rue.
- Known for anti-aging effects
in other organisms.
Research Significance:
·
First
comprehensive study showing metformin’s anti-aging effects in primates, beyond
mice.
Future Implications: Further
research is required before human use; a 120-person trial is currently testing
its effect on aging.