Diabetes Drug Metformin Shows Promise in Slowing Brain Aging

A study on monkeys suggests metformin could delay cognitive decline and organ aging, potentially translating to human benefits.

Researchers conducted a 40-month study on cynomolgus monkeys, finding metformin slowed brain aging by an equivalent of 18 human years.
The study, published in Cell, showed metformin improved cognitive function and reduced inflammation in the brain and other organs.
Metformin-treated monkeys exhibited slower biological aging in tissues like the liver, kidneys, and lungs, in addition to the brain.
The research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences is now partnering with Merck for a Phase II trial on 120 human participants.
While promising, the study's small sample size and species differences highlight the need for further research to confirm metformin's effects in humans.