A cheap, decades-old drug called metformin is gaining attention for its potential to extend lifespan and improve health. Metformin, which has been used to treat diabetes since the 1950s and was approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes treatment in the US in the 1990s, may also protect against common age-related diseases such as cancer, cognitive decline, and heart disease due to its anti-inflammatory effects. The drug costs less than a dollar a day for many people with insurance coverage.
Scientists are currently conducting a six-year clinical trial called The TAME Trial to test whether metformin can slow down aging and prevent diseases in healthy, older adults. The study aims to enroll 3,000 people between the ages of 65 and 79.
Metformin has already shown promising results in observational studies. For instance, a meta-analysis found that people who took metformin had a lower risk of several types of cancers, including gastrointestinal, urologic, and blood cancers. The drug is also approved to treat type 2 diabetes but doctors can prescribe it off-label for conditions other than its approved use.
Michael Cantor, an attorney, and his wife Shari Cantor, the mayor of West Hartford, Connecticut both take metformin. Michael started taking the drug 10 years ago to help manage his weight and blood sugar control. Shari began taking it during the pandemic due to its potential infection prevention benefits.
Steven Austad, a senior scientific adviser at the American Federation for Aging Research who studies the biology of aging, believes that metformin may increase life span in people but more research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
The TAME Trial is facing funding challenges due to the fact that metformin is a generic drug with no pharmaceutical company standing to make money from it. However, if successful, it could represent a major breakthrough in preventative medicine.
