Metformin's Anti-Aging Case: Strong Clues but Still No Proof
This review pulls together lab, population, and clinical trial evidence on metformin as a potential aging-slowing drug. At normal doses, metformin seems to flip several key aging switches: boosting cellular cleanup, calming inflammation, and improving energy production. Large population studies link metformin use to lower rates of age-related diseases, even in people without diabetes. However, the review honestly notes that metformin may actually worsen aging in older animals, so the picture is still mixed.
Key Insight
This review suggests metformin shows promise against aging but its effects may differ by age.
Related Studies
Blood NAD+ Levels Stay Flat With Age, Challenging Popular Aging Theory
One of the most repeated ideas in longevity is that NAD+ declines as we age, a story that helped make NR and NMN household names in the space. This large, carefully controlled study takes a closer look. Across seven independent cohorts and more than 300 people, researchers found that whole-blood NAD+ levels stayed remarkably stable with age, and didn't shift meaningfully in response to exercise, protein-rich diets, or multimodal lifestyle interventions in older adults. Importantly, NR supplementation did raise blood NAD+ as expected, confirming that the supplements work pharmacologically, the question is just whether blood NAD+ is the right thing to be measuring in the first place.
Just 5,700 Daily Steps Cut Death Risk By 13% In Older Adults
Looking at dozens of studies with over 367,000 older adults, regular walking was tied to lower risk of death, disease, and cognitive decline. Each extra 1,000 daily steps was linked to a 13% drop in death from any cause. Walking pace did not change the benefit, so slow walks counted too.
Eating More Fruits, Fish, Nuts, and Dairy Tied to Slower Cognitive Decline
In over 3,000 Chinese older adults tracked for about five years, those who ate more from six protective food groups (fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, fish, and dairy) showed slower cognitive decline. People scoring highest on this diet scale declined about 0.42 points per year slower on a cognitive test compared to those scoring lowest. The effect was modest but consistent across different ways of measuring cognition.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.