A new multi-institutional study published on May 19, 2025, in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences reveals that metformin, a common diabetes medication, is associated with exceptional longevity among postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that women using metformin were 30% less likely to die before age 90 compared to those using sulfonylurea, another diabetes drug.
The study analyzed data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a large national cohort study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that has followed over 161,000 women aged 50 to 79 since the 1990s.
Currently, more than 42,000 participants remain active, providing a rich resource for aging and health research.
Led by Dr. Aladdin H. Shadyab and Dr. Andrea LaCroix of the University of California San Diego, the research highlights metformin’s potential as a gerotherapeutic—drugs that may slow aging and extend healthy lifespan.
However, the authors caution that since metformin was not compared to a placebo, further studies are needed to confirm the mechanisms behind this association.
This study adds to growing evidence supporting metformin’s role in promoting longevity and healthy aging, especially among older women with diabetes.
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