Research alert: use of metformin associated with exceptional longevity among older women
There is increasing interest in finding drugs, known as gerotherapeutics, that can slow aging and help people live longer. Metformin, a common diabetes drug, is being studied because it affects several aging-related processes.
In a multi-institutional study published online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences on May 19, 2025 researchers examined the relationship between metformin use and a longer lifespan among postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. When compared with sulfonylurea, another class of diabetes medication, they reported that using metformin increased the likelihood of reaching an age of 90 or older, known as exceptional longevity.
The study's key finding is that the use of metformin is associated with a 30% lower risk of death before age 90 compared to use of sulfonylurea. However, because metformin was not compared to a placebo, future studies are needed to determine the underlying cause of this association.
Researchers analyzed data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a large, national cohort study with over 30 years of follow-up, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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