Will Metformin Become the First Anti-Aging Drug?
by Raegan Linton
A committed group of scientists is seeking to validate metformin as the first-ever anti-aging medication.1,2
In this day of staggering drug prices, metformin is available as a low-cost generic.
One mechanism by which metformin works is by activating AMPK, an enzyme inside cells that lowers blood sugar by promoting energy utilization.
Activating AMPK has broad-ranging effects that extend far beyond blood sugar control. Studies show that boosting AMPK activity can prevent?and even reverse?the life-shortening effects of aging, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and more.3
In this article, we?ll review data that persuaded the FDA to allow metformin to be studied in humans as the first anti-aging drug.1
The most commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug is metformin. It has been in use in England since 1958 and in the United States since 1995.
Derived from a compound found in the French Lilac, metformin has a track record of safety and effectiveness at routine doses of up to 2,000 mg daily.4-7
So what evidence is there for the FDA to consider this drug as an anti-aging medication? The reason is simple:
Metformin can block or diminish many of the fundamental factors that accelerate aging.8-12
These include protecting against DNA damage glycation, poor mitochondrial function, and chronic inflammation. Metformin has been shown to facilitate DNA repair, which is critical for cancer prevention.
By attacking these fundamental degenerative processes, metformin can prevent the development of aging?s most troubling diseases.
Metformin has also been shown to increase the production of known longevity-promoting signaling molecules in cells, such as mTOR and AMPK?all of which reduce fat and sugar storage and increase youthful functioning at the cellular level.11,13
Studies have shown that by activating AMPK, metformin specifically impacts lifespan. For example, roundworms treated with metformin have higher AMPK activity and live about 20% longer than untreated control animals.14 Mice treated with metformin have been found to live nearly 6% longer than controls.11 And most impressively, diabetics taking metformin were shown to live 15% longer than healthy individuals without diabetes!15
AMPK activity declines with age,16 making us more vulnerable to many of the diseases associated with aging. Fortunately, a wealth of recent studies show that by activating AMPK, metformin plays a major role in preventing age-related disorders including cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurocognitive decline.
By combatting many of the underlying causes of aging?and by activating AMPK?metformin can be considered a broad-spectrum anti-aging drug.
Read the rest of the article here --> http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2017/4/Metformin-Slashes-Cancer-Risks/Page-01
by Raegan Linton
A committed group of scientists is seeking to validate metformin as the first-ever anti-aging medication.1,2
In this day of staggering drug prices, metformin is available as a low-cost generic.
One mechanism by which metformin works is by activating AMPK, an enzyme inside cells that lowers blood sugar by promoting energy utilization.
Activating AMPK has broad-ranging effects that extend far beyond blood sugar control. Studies show that boosting AMPK activity can prevent?and even reverse?the life-shortening effects of aging, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and more.3
In this article, we?ll review data that persuaded the FDA to allow metformin to be studied in humans as the first anti-aging drug.1
The most commonly prescribed antidiabetic drug is metformin. It has been in use in England since 1958 and in the United States since 1995.
Derived from a compound found in the French Lilac, metformin has a track record of safety and effectiveness at routine doses of up to 2,000 mg daily.4-7
So what evidence is there for the FDA to consider this drug as an anti-aging medication? The reason is simple:
Metformin can block or diminish many of the fundamental factors that accelerate aging.8-12
These include protecting against DNA damage glycation, poor mitochondrial function, and chronic inflammation. Metformin has been shown to facilitate DNA repair, which is critical for cancer prevention.
By attacking these fundamental degenerative processes, metformin can prevent the development of aging?s most troubling diseases.
Metformin has also been shown to increase the production of known longevity-promoting signaling molecules in cells, such as mTOR and AMPK?all of which reduce fat and sugar storage and increase youthful functioning at the cellular level.11,13
Studies have shown that by activating AMPK, metformin specifically impacts lifespan. For example, roundworms treated with metformin have higher AMPK activity and live about 20% longer than untreated control animals.14 Mice treated with metformin have been found to live nearly 6% longer than controls.11 And most impressively, diabetics taking metformin were shown to live 15% longer than healthy individuals without diabetes!15
AMPK activity declines with age,16 making us more vulnerable to many of the diseases associated with aging. Fortunately, a wealth of recent studies show that by activating AMPK, metformin plays a major role in preventing age-related disorders including cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurocognitive decline.
By combatting many of the underlying causes of aging?and by activating AMPK?metformin can be considered a broad-spectrum anti-aging drug.
Read the rest of the article here --> http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2017/4/Metformin-Slashes-Cancer-Risks/Page-01
