On March 29, 2017, True Viral News featured insights from AFAR Scientific Director Steven Austad, PhD, and 2009 Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research, 2003 AFAR Research Award, and 2008 Julie Martin Mid-Career Award in Aging Research recipient, Brian K. Kennedy, PhD on metformin and rapamycin.
The article, Could a Pill Put the Breaks on Aging?, takes an in-depth look at two drugs with potential to increase human healthspan: metformin and rapamycin.
The subject of the AFAR-managed Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) Trial, metformin is the most common drug prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug is also believed to encourage cell mitochondria to function more efficiently and prevent the release of free radicals that damage cells and their ability to reproduce. In terms of treating age-related disease, Dr. Austad explains results of previous research have revealed people who take metformin for diabetes treatment outlived those who didn’t by 15%.
Like metformin, rapamycin is also believed to keep cell mitochondria healthy. Dr. Kennedy explains current research shows rapamycin extends the lifespan in yeast and in many different strains of mice. He goes on to point out that the drug has some major side effects, like cataracts, diabetes, and an increased risk of some types of cancers. He concludes: “So while rapamycin appears to produce more dramatic results, metformin is likely to get a clinical trial in humans first.”
The full article can be read here.
Steven Austad, PhD is a Distinguished Professor and Department Chair at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Brian Kennedy, PhD is a Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.
For more information on metformin research, please read more about the AFAR-supported Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) clinical trial here.
