Drugdu.com expert's response:

Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, has shown potential in recent research on anti-aging. Specifically, its anti-aging effects are manifested in the following aspects:

Ⅰ. Scientific Research Achievements

Research by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Team: After an extensive 8-year study, the team led by Liu Guanghui from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered that metformin can reset the intrinsic program of cellular aging, significantly delaying aging in primates. This achievement was published in the journal "Cell", providing new insights into the biological mechanisms of aging and potential strategies for future interventions in human aging.

Experimental Evidence: The research team conducted a 40-month follow-up study on middle-aged and elderly male crab-eating macaques. The results showed that individuals who took metformin long-term exhibited significant delays in aging, including reduced brain cortex atrophy, improved cognitive function, delayed periodontal bone degeneration, and protection of multiple tissues and organs such as the liver, heart, lungs, small intestine, and skeletal muscle.

Ⅱ. Anti-Aging Mechanisms

Activation of AMPK Pathway: Metformin activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in cells, regulating cellular energy balance, reducing fat accumulation, enhancing autophagy, and helping to clear waste and damaged proteins within cells, thereby delaying the aging process.

Enhanced Antioxidant Capacity: Metformin boosts cellular antioxidant capacity, reducing free radical generation and protecting cells from oxidative stress-induced damage, thereby slowing down free radical-mediated cellular aging.

Promotion of Mitochondrial Function: Mitochondria are the "powerhouses" of cells. Metformin regulates mitochondrial function, helping cells maintain normal energy metabolism and thus delaying aging.

III. Application Prospects

Potential Anti-Aging Drug: As a widely used drug, metformin's safety and tolerability have been thoroughly validated in diabetes treatment, making it an ideal candidate for anti-aging drug research.

Reduction of Medical Burden: With the continuous growth of the global elderly population, research and application of anti-aging drugs are crucial for alleviating the burden on healthcare systems and improving the quality of life for the elderly. Widespread use of metformin and other anti-aging drugs could help prevent and treat age-related diseases, thereby reducing societal medical burdens.

Ⅳ. Precautions

Although metformin has shown potential in the anti-aging field, current research is still in its early stages, and large-scale clinical trials in humans have yet to verify its anti-aging effects.

Therefore, more research and clinical trials are needed to assess metformin's safety and efficacy before it can be used as an anti-aging drug.

Additionally, we should maintain a rational perspective on anti-aging drug research and application, avoiding blind pursuit of immortality or overreliance on drug interventions while neglecting the importance of healthy lifestyles.

In conclusion, metformin has indeed shown potential in the anti-aging field, but further research and validation are necessary to confirm its anti-aging effects.