The DOI matches its Crossref record; 82 of the 83 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 50 of the 74 sources its claims cite were checked for support.
Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging
Open accessAbstract
Aging has been targeted by genetic and dietary manipulation and by drugs in order to increase lifespan and health span in numerous models. Metformin, which has demonstrated protective effects against several age-related diseases in humans, will be tested in the TAME (Targeting Aging with Metformin) trial, as the initial step in the development of increasingly effective next-generation drugs.
Overview
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This perspective argues that metformin engages multiple aging-related mechanisms and reviews evidence from model organisms and human studies to support testing it as an aging-targeted intervention. It describes the planned TAME trial, which would test metformin in older adults using a composite outcome of age-related diseases.
Key findings
- Metformin affects several pathways linked to aging, including reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling, mTOR inhibition, mitochondrial complex I inhibition, AMPK activation, lower reactive oxygen species and DNA damage, and effects on inflammation, autophagy, and senescence. In C. elegans it extends lifespan partly by altering microbial folate and methionine metabolism, though the paper notes no human evidence for that mechanism.
- Animal lifespan results are mixed. Metformin increased mean lifespan by about 40% in female outbred mice, by 14% when started early (with weaker effects when started later), by 8% in a breast cancer model, by about 20% in a Huntington’s disease model only in males, and by 4%–6% across different mouse breeds; healthspan indices improved by about 30%. Some studies found no lifespan extension, including Drosophila at 1 mM and rats at a dose roughly 15 times the human dose, which the paper suggests may reflect toxicity.
- Human evidence includes a 31% reduction in type 2 diabetes incidence versus placebo over about 3 years in the Diabetes Prevention Program; in UKPDS, about 20% lower cardiovascular risk (p = 0.032) and 42% lower diabetes-related death (p = 0.017); in HOME, a 40% reduction in a cardiovascular composite over 4 years; a meta-analysis reporting 31% lower cancer incidence and 34% lower cancer mortality; a 51% lower risk of cognitive impairment in the Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study; and a 36% reduction in all-cause mortality in UKPDS long-term follow-up (p = 0.011). Negative trials included GIPS III and CAMERA.
- The proposed TAME trial would enroll 3,000 subjects aged 65–79 at about 14 U.S. centers and measure time to a composite outcome including cardiovascular events, cancer, dementia, and mortality, along with functional and geriatric endpoints.
Methods
- This is a narrative review/perspective that synthesizes evidence from model organisms, randomized clinical trials, and observational studies to justify metformin as an initial aging-targeted drug.
- It describes the design of the planned TAME randomized controlled trial: 3,000 participants, ages 65–79, approximately 14 centers, and a composite outcome of cardiovascular events, cancer, dementia, and mortality plus functional and geriatric endpoints.
- No primary data analysis, systematic search strategy, or meta-analytic method is reported in the paper.
Limitations
- The paper states that it remains unclear whether metformin acts through multiple pathways or whether its effects are downstream of a single primary mechanism; that not all animal studies show lifespan extension, with high doses possibly toxic; that human observational data cannot exclude residual bias and confounding; that no definitive trials have tested cognition; and that TAME has not yet been conducted.
- Evident from the text: as a review/perspective, the evidence is selected rather than systematically appraised, and the TAME design description lacks details on dosing, follow-up duration, and statistical analysis. Human benefits are drawn largely from diabetic or high-risk populations, which limits generalization to broader aging populations.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
50 of 74 cited sources checked · 39 supported · 1 flagged · accuracy not yet measured
Some cited sources support this claim and some don’t — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“inhibition of mitochondrial complex 1 in the electron transport chain and reduction of endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Batandier et al., 2006; Bridges et al., 2014; Zheng et al., 2012)”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Batandier et al., 2006 source
- Disputedcites Bridges et al., 2014 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Results section (“Biguanide effects on the flavin site and H2O2 production”) says metformin increases ‘native’ H2O2 production, rather than reducing it. It distinguishes that effect from a decrease in paraquat-stimulated H2O2 production. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.
- Supportedcites Zheng et al., 2012 source
The Results section reports that metformin decreased ROS generation in cells exposed to high glucose. It also reports that metformin reduced the increase in retinal ROS in diabetic rats, supporting the attributed reduction in ROS production. (LLM, conf=0.92)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesThe cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“When rapamycin is administered late in life, it extends lifespan (Harrison et al., 2009; Miller et al., 2011), slows aging in a dose-dependent manner, shows differential effects by sex (Wilkinson et al., 2012), and is synergistic with metformin.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Introduction > Interventions to Prolong Lifespan
What the sources say
- Partly supportedcites Wilkinson et al., 2012 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Liver degeneration Results report a dose-dependent decline in an age-related liver lesion in male mice, and the Adrenal tumors Results report a significant trend across doses. The Discussion concludes more broadly that rapamycin slows aspects of aging in mice, but does not establish that its overall effect on aging is dose-dependent. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Partly supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“activation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) (Cho et al., 2015; Duca et al., 2015; Foretz et al., 2010; Lien et al., 2014; Lu et al., 2015; Zheng et al., 2012)”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Cho et al., 2015 source
The Results passage reports that metformin induced AMPK activation in rat pituitary adenoma cells, measured by phosphorylation. This directly supports the attributed claim. (LLM, conf=0.94)
- Supportedcites Duca et al., 2015 source
In the passage labeled Abstract (Fig. 1f), the paper reports that intraduodenal metformin increased phosphorylated AMPK relative to total AMPK in rat duodenal mucosa. It also describes this as activation of duodenal AMPK. (LLM, conf=0.94)
- Supportedcites Foretz et al., 2010 source
The Introduction states that metformin treatment activates AMPK and reports that this has been observed in human and rodent tissues. The Discussion further suggests that metformin indirectly stimulates AMPK by lowering ATP levels; its finding that gluconeogenesis inhibition is AMPK-independent does not contradict the activation claim. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Supported
The sources with a verdict support this claim; the rest weren’t checked yet, have no full text we could read, or their verdicts aren’t rated yet.
In the paper
“Metformin favorably influences metabolic and cellular processes closely associated with the development of age-related conditions, such as inflammation (Saisho, 2015), autophagy (Song et al., 2015; Xie et al., 2011), and cellular senescence (Jadhav et al., 2013; Moiseeva et al., 2013).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Saisho, 2015 source
- Supportedcites Song et al., 2015 source
Song et al. is cited for the autophagy portion of the sentence, not for inflammation or cellular senescence. The Results section reports increased autophagic flux after metformin treatment in hepatocytes, and the Discussion reports induced liver autophagic flux in ob/ob mice. The Discussion also notes that autophagy function can decline with age; it does not establish a benefit for age-related conditions in humans. (LLM, conf=0.92)
- Supportedcites Xie et al., 2011 source
The Discussion reports that chronic metformin treatment enhanced cardiac autophagy in diabetic mice. Xie et al. is cited for the autophagy portion of the sentence, not for its separate claims about inflammation or cellular senescence. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesEvery source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“More importantly, these pathways have been evaluated in mammalian models, in which health span and lifespan have been extended by genetic manipulation or drugs (Johnson et al., 2013).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Introduction > Targeting Health Span
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Johnson et al., 2013 source
The “mTOR in mammalian ageing and healthspan” section reports that rapamycin extends lifespan in mice and delays several age-related changes. It also reports increased lifespan after S6K1 gene knockout in female mice. The paper thus supports the claim about drug and genetic interventions in mammalian models, though the knockout lifespan benefit was sex-specific. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“In C. elegans metformin extends lifespan by several possible mechanisms including the alteration of the microbiome, specifically by changing microbial folate and methionine metabolism (Cabreiro et al., 2013).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Cabreiro et al., 2013 source
The Introduction states that metformin’s lifespan-extending effects in C. elegans are mediated by cocultured E. coli, in which it inhibits folate and methionine metabolism. The Discussion adds that the lifespan effect depends on the bacterial strain; the citing sentence presents this as one possible mechanism, not a universal effect. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passes- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“Studies have demonstrated that genetic pathways modulate healthy lifespan in diverse species across great evolutionary distance and established that aging-related pathways constitute a target for intervention (Barzilai et al., 2012; Longo et al., 2015).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Introduction
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Barzilai et al., 2012 source
The section on attenuated mTOR signaling describes a highly conserved pathway whose genetic inhibition extends lifespan in yeast, nematodes and fruit flies. The section on exceptional human survival links FOXO3A to longevity and healthy aging, supporting the cross-species paraphrase. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)
- Supportedcites Longo et al., 2015 source
In “Inhibitors of the TOR pathway,” the paper links mTOR signaling to lifespan and healthspan in several model species and reports that genetic or pharmacological reduction extends lifespan in yeast, worms, flies, and mice. It also identifies mTOR signaling as a candidate for targeted intervention. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Supported
The cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“inhibition of mitochondrial complex 1 in the electron transport chain and reduction of endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Batandier et al., 2006; Bridges et al., 2014; Zheng et al., 2012)”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Batandier et al., 2006 source
- Supportedcites Bridges et al., 2014 source
The Results section (‘Metformin and related compounds inhibit catalysis by isolated complex I’) reports that metformin inhibits complex I catalysis, although weakly and reversibly. This supports the attributed claim about complex I inhibition; the claim does not attribute the sentence’s separate ROS-reduction point to this source alone. (LLM, conf=0.94)
- Partly supportedcites Zheng et al., 2012 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Results section reports that metformin decreased ROS generation in retinal endothelial cells under high-glucose stress. The Discussion links this effect to the SIRT1/LKB1/AMPK pathway, but the paper does not say that metformin inhibits mitochondrial complex I of the electron transport chain. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesThe cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“A more recent study (Martin-Montalvo et al., 2013) demonstrated that metformin increased lifespan by 4%–6% in different mouse breeds.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Partly supportedcites Martin-Montalvo et al., 2013 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Results (‘Metformin increases healthspan and longevity of mice’) report mean lifespan extensions of 5.83% in C57BL/6 mice and 4.15% in B6C3F1 mice at the 0.1% dose. The B6C3F1 result was not statistically significant, so saying the study ‘demonstrated’ an increase in both strains overstates the evidence. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Partly supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“Studies have demonstrated that genetic pathways modulate healthy lifespan in diverse species across great evolutionary distance and established that aging-related pathways constitute a target for intervention (Barzilai et al., 2012; Longo et al., 2015).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Introduction
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Barzilai et al., 2012 source
The Conclusions and Future Directions section identifies metabolic signaling pathways as potential therapeutic targets for delaying aging and reports that rapamycin can extend mammalian life span. The section on attenuated mTOR signaling also describes genetic and pharmacological interventions in that aging-related pathway that extend life span in model organisms. (LLM, conf=0.93)
- Supportedcites Longo et al., 2015 source
The ‘Inhibitors of the TOR pathway’ section reports lifespan extension through genetic or pharmacological intervention in yeast, worms, flies, and mice, and identifies mTOR signaling as a target. The Conclusions likewise identify aging-related pathways and interventions to target them. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Load-bearingStrength:boosted· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passes- Supported
- It may state two separate claims as one. 20
- Probably not a substantial claim. 7
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“When started early in life, mean lifespan was increased by 14%, but with initiation at older ages, this effect declined (Anisimov et al., 2011).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Anisimov et al., 2011 source
The Abstract reports a 14% increase in mean lifespan when metformin treatment began at 3 months in female SHR mice, compared with 6% when it began at 9 months and no increase at 15 months. The Results (Survival and longevity of female SHR mice) give the corresponding figures as 14.1% and 6.1% and note p>0.05. (LLM, conf=0.93)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“Metformin delays the onset of carcinoma and extends lifespan by a mean of 8% in a breast cancer model (Anisimov et al., 2010)”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Anisimov et al., 2010 source
The Introduction reports that metformin increased mean lifespan by 8% and delayed mammary adenocarcinoma onset in HER-2/neu mice. The Discussion likewise says it slowed mammary tumor development in this breast-cancer model. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
The cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“Beyond these cellular processes, there is a growing body of evidence that metformin can delay aging and increase healthy lifespan in vivo, specifically in nematodes and several rodent strains by adding metformin to the diet (Anisimov et al., 2008, 2011; Cabreiro et al., 2013; De Haes et al., 2014).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Partly supportedcites Anisimov et al., 2008 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Abstract reports that metformin extended lifespan and slowed age-related loss of estrous function in female SHR mice; the Introduction also describes findings in another mouse strain. This paper does not report metformin extending lifespan in nematodes, and its own experiment administered metformin in drinking water, not in the diet. (LLM, conf=0.88)
- Partly supportedcites Anisimov et al., 2011 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Discussion reports increased lifespan, delayed tumors, and signs of delayed cellular senescence in female SHR mice treated with metformin, supporting the rodent portion of the claim. But Materials and Methods (Experimental design; page unavailable) specifies metformin was given in drinking water, not added to the diet. This paper does not provide the nematode evidence, which the citing sentence also attributes to other citations. (LLM, conf=0.89)
- Supportedcites Cabreiro et al., 2013 source
The Results section reports that metformin increased C. elegans lifespan and slowed its age-related rise in mortality. The Experimental Procedures describe metformin-supplemented culture medium. The Introduction also reports delayed aging in rodents as background, while the sentence provides separate citations for the rodent evidence. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Partly supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“When rapamycin is administered late in life, it extends lifespan (Harrison et al., 2009; Miller et al., 2011), slows aging in a dose-dependent manner, shows differential effects by sex (Wilkinson et al., 2012), and is synergistic with metformin.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Introduction > Interventions to Prolong Lifespan
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Wilkinson et al., 2012 source
The Discussion reports that rapamycin diminished the age-dependent decline in spontaneous activity, but the effective dose differed between males and females. The Results also describe age-related lesions affected by rapamycin in males, females, or both sexes. (LLM, conf=0.92)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Supported
The cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“Surprisingly, metformin-treated diabetic patients had survival rates similar to (and, among those age > 70, even better than) their matched non-diabetic control group, despite the fact that the diabetic patients were more obese and had greater co-morbidities at baseline.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Association of Metformin with Decreased Mortality
What the sources say
- Partly supportedcites Bannister et al., 2014 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Metformin monotherapy compared with matched control group section reports higher BMI and greater baseline morbidity in the metformin group. The Unadjusted survival patterns section reports little overall survival difference and better survival with metformin among patients aged 71–75, but it does not establish that result for everyone over 70. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Partly supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“Feeding metformin to Drosophila resulted in a robust activation of AMPK and reduced lipid stores, but did not increase lifespan (Slack et al., 2012).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Slack et al., 2012 source
The Abstract states that feeding metformin to adult Drosophila robustly activated AMPK, reduced lipid stores, and did not increase lifespan in either sex. The Results section, “Metformin Treatment does not Extend Lifespan in Drosophila,” likewise reports no survival benefit across the tested concentrations. (LLM, conf=0.95)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
The sources with a verdict support this claim; the rest weren’t checked yet, have no full text we could read, or their verdicts aren’t rated yet.
In the paper
“One study suggested that T2DM patients treated with metformin had increased risk for poor cognitive performance (Moore et al., 2013); however, it had a number of methodological flaws (Alagiakrishnan et al., 2013) and has not been replicated.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Association of Metformin with Better Cognitive Function
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Moore et al., 2013 source
The Results section reports worse cognitive performance among participants with diabetes who were taking metformin (adjusted OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.05–4.75), and the Conclusions describe the finding as an association. The methodological-flaws clause cites a different source, while the replication statement is not attributed to Moore et al.; neither is part of this verdict. (LLM, conf=0.94)
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Alagiakrishnan et al., 2013
Strength:hedged· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“In non-diabetic subjects, the GIPS III study (Lexis et al., 2014) failed to demonstrate the benefit of short-term metformin treatment (4 months) on left ventricular ejection fraction, major adverse cardiovascular events, and mortality in post-myocardial infarction patients”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Clinical Trials
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Lexis et al., 2014 source
The Abstract reports that four months of metformin did not improve left ventricular ejection fraction compared with placebo in patients without diabetes after STEMI. Major adverse cardiac events were not significantly different between groups (P = .16), and all patients were alive at four months, so the trial demonstrated no benefit on mortality during that period. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“a more thorough analysis that included more data and accounted for heterogeneous comparators showed that overall cancer incidence was reduced by 31% and cancer mortality by 34% (Gandini et al., 2014).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Observational Studies Suggest Metformin Decreases Cancer Incidence
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Gandini et al., 2014 source
The Results section, “Overall Cancer Incidence and Mortality – Effects of BMI and Study Type,” reports 31% lower overall cancer incidence and 34% lower cancer mortality among metformin users compared with users of other anti-diabetic compounds. These are the paper’s pooled estimates; the paper also cautions that the associations may not be causal and become smaller or nonsignificant in some bias-adjusted analyses. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“As expected in these studies, metformin also increased AMPK activity and increased antioxidant protection, resulting in reductions in both chronic inflammation and accumulation of oxidative damage (Martin-Montalvo et al., 2013)”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Martin-Montalvo et al., 2013 source
The Results section (page unavailable) reports increased phosphoactive AMPK in metformin-treated mice and increased antioxidant and stress-response proteins that contributed to reduced hepatic oxidative damage. It also reports reduced inflammatory signaling and increased expression of anti-inflammatory genes in their livers. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Supported
The cited sources support only part of this claim — read each source’s verdict below.
In the paper
“After a single 1.5 g dose, the peak plasma concentration of 18 mM occurs in 3 hr, with a mean plasma half-life of about 20 hr (Foretz et al., 2014).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Considerations in Designing Human Metformin Trials
What the sources say
- Partly supportedcites Foretz et al., 2014 sourceExperimental — accuracy not yet measured
The Pharmacokinetics of metformin section reports a peak at 3 hours after a 1.5 g dose and a mean plasma half-life of about 20 hours. It gives the peak concentration as about 18 µM, not 18 mM; the citing sentence overstates it by a factor of 1,000. (LLM, conf=0.95)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.
- Partly supported
Every source the paper cites for this claim was checked and supports it.
In the paper
“While one meta-analysis (Stevens et al., 2012) did not show that metformin prevents cancer”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Observational Studies Suggest Metformin Decreases Cancer Incidence
What the sources say
- Supportedcites Stevens et al., 2012 source
The Discussion reports that the meta-analysis found no statistically significant beneficial effect of metformin on cancer outcomes. It also cautions that the broad confidence intervals do not rule out a smaller protective effect, which is consistent with saying the analysis did not show prevention rather than that it disproved it. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.
- Supported
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“To date, there is no evidence for such effects in humans.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Metformin Modulates the Biology of Aging and Health Span in Model Organisms
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Lifespan has been verifiably modulated by genetic, pharmacologic, and dietary interventions in multiple model systems.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Introduction
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesProbably not a substantial claim.
In the paper
“In the Singapore Longitudinal Aging Study, metformin use was associated with a 51% reduced risk of cognitive impairment (defined by modified Mini-Mental Status Exam score % 23), which remained robust to adjustment for vascular and non-vascular risk factors.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Association of Metformin with Better Cognitive Function
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Ng et al., 2014
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Data from several randomized clinical trials and multiple observational studies provide evidence for such an effect, which would not be expected from glucose lowering alone.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes? Based: unclearIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Further, the risk of lactic acidosis appears to be related to renal function, not age per se, and is currently considered to be very low (Aroda et al., 2016).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Considerations in Designing Human Metformin Trials
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Aroda et al., 2016 source
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The majority of observational data support metformin benefit in CVD, but residual bias and confounding cannot be ruled out”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Observational Studies
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:correlational· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“Vitamin B12 deficiency occurred in ~7% of metformin group versus 5% in placebo group after 13 years; risk of B12 deficiency increases with duration of use but was not greater in older compared with younger subjects in DPPOS (Lalau et al., 1990).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Considerations in Designing Human Metformin Trials
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Lalau et al., 1990
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
A conclusion the paper draws from its own results — it cites no other source for it, so there is none to check. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“If metformin can target and delay aging, its administration should be associated with fewer age-related diseases in general, rather than merely the decreased incidence of a single disease.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“Studies on biodistribution of metformin in mice showed accumulation mainly in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and liver.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Considerations in Designing Human Metformin Trials
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✗ Load-bearing: fails✗ Based: failsProbably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.
In the paper
“Patients with T2DM allocated to metformin compared with conventional treatment had risk reduction of ~20% (p = 0.032) for CVD and 42% (p = 0.017) for diabetes-related death (UKPDS Group, 1998).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Clinical Trials
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites UKPDS Group, 1998
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“The mechanisms proposed relate to reduced insulin levels, improved insulin action, decreased IGF-1 signaling, and activation of AMPK.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Observational Studies Suggest Metformin Decreases Cancer Incidence
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedCausal:direct· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
The paper states this without a source or data behind it here, so there is nothing to check it against. The quote shows it is in the paper.
In the paper
“While metformin can beprescribed at dosages of up to 2,250 mg/day, no further effects of decreasing glucose are noted after 1,600–1,700 mg/day.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Considerations in Designing Human Metformin Trials
Strength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear? Based: unclearIt may state two separate claims as one.
In the paper
“the safety of met-formin use in DPP/DPPOS was reported on in 2012, when over 18,000 patients-years of follow-up had accrued, and by which time ~20% of the cohort was age 70 or older (mean age ~64). There were no cases of lactic acidosis or significant hypoglycemia (Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group, 2012).”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Considerations in Designing Human Metformin Trials
What the sources say
- Not matchedcites Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group, 2012
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Load-bearingStrength:plain· not yet calibratedTests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes✓ Load-bearing: passes✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
- Not matched
In the paper
“In one small clinical trial, T2DM patients with depression (n = 58) were treated with metformin or placebo for 24 weeks (Guo et al., 2014). The metformin group showed improved cognitive performance and reduced depressive symptoms, concurrent with improved glycemic control.”
§ Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging > Human Studies of Metformin that Target Age-Related Diseases > Association of Metformin with Better Cognitive Function
What the sources say
- Not checked — no full text of the sourcecites Guo et al., 2014 source
Tests✓ Asserted: passes✓ Checkable: passes? Load-bearing: unclear✓ Based: passesIt may state two separate claims as one.
The paper relies on this without support.
Metformin's aging-related mechanisms observed in model organisms are conserved in humans.
“Metformin is a drug approved to treat diabetes but appears to target a number of aging-related mechanisms.”
The paper relies on this without support.
A composite outcome of cardiovascular events, cancer, dementia, and mortality can serve as a measure of aging per se in TAME.
“Rather than study the effects of metformin on each separate condition, we will measure time to a new occurrence of a composite outcome that includes cardiovascular events, cancer, dementia, and mortality.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Age-related diseases share a common aging process such that a single drug can delay them together.
“If metformin can target and delay aging, its administration should be associated with fewer age-related diseases in general, rather than merely the decreased incidence of a single disease.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Metformin is a powerful calorie restriction mimetic in aging mice (Dhahbi, Mote, Fahy, & Spindler, 2005) and has been proposed as a candidate for slowing aging in humans (Barzilai, Crandall, Kritchevsky, & Espeland, 2016).”
From Reversal of epigenetic aging and immunosenescent trends in humans. (2019) · cites this paper as Barzilai, Crandall, Kritchevsky, & Espeland, 2016
In the citing paper
“Metformin- a biguanide that combats age-related disorders and improves healthspan”
From Benefits of Metformin in Attenuating the Hallmarks of Aging (2020) · cites this paper as Barzilai et al. 2016
In the citing paper
“Association studies suggest a decrease in the incidence of most age-related cancers, Alzheimer’s Disease while clinical studies support metformin’s role in a decrease in cognitive decline and reduced mortality in diabetics taking metformin compared to non-diabetics”
From Benefits of Metformin in Attenuating the Hallmarks of Aging (2020) · cites this paper as Barzilai et al. 2016
In the citing paper
“One of the main actions of metformin is the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), that leads to multiple downstream effects both on metabolic and non-metabolic pathways responsible in the aging process”
From Benefits of Metformin in Attenuating the Hallmarks of Aging (2020) · cites this paper as Barzilai et al. 2016
In the citing paper
“In humans, metformin has been in clinical use for over 60 years, studied extensively, has a high safety profile and is uniquely positioned to intervene several crucial pathways responsible for aging and age-related diseases”
From Benefits of Metformin in Attenuating the Hallmarks of Aging (2020) · cites this paper as Barzilai et al. 2016
In the citing paper
“Metformin, a widely prescribed antidiabetic drug, has been shown to alleviate aging in preclinical studies [177].”
From Immunosenescence: a key player in cancer development (2020) · cites this paper as [177]
In the citing paper
“New insights may also come from the use of caloric restriction mimetics, such as metformin, an activator of 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK).”
From Immunosenescence and Its Hallmarks: How to Oppose Aging Strategically? A Review of Potential Options for Therapeutic Intervention (2019) · cites this paper as [94]
In the citing paper
“The lifespan and healthspan of invertebrates are extended by mutations in pathways such as the DAF-2, a gene that encodes for the IGF-1 pathway in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), or the mTOR signaling pathways that are linked to accelerating the aging process (60, 62–65).”
From A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan (2021) · cites this paper as [60]
In the citing paper
“The same pathways studied in C. elegans have also been investigated in mammals, where lifespan and healthspan were prolonged through modifying the ‘aging’ pathways or through drugs, including metformin (60, 87).”
From A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan (2021) · cites this paper as [60]
In the citing paper
“Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) trial is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial that is planned to involve 14 research centers in the USA, and subject to funding and approval, will enroll 3000 ethnically diverse, non-diabetic subjects aged 65–80 (60, 261).”
From A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan (2021) · cites this paper as [60]
In the citing paper
“It is argued that TAME trial outcomes will give more insight on whether metformin decreases the risk of developing age-dependent diseases, excluding diabetes, in non-diabetic individuals, and potentially provide a tool to target aging itself and not related diseases individually (60, 261).”
From A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan (2021) · cites this paper as [60]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Trial described as unpublished despite a published citation
MinorThe text calls the Luchsinger et al. trial unpublished, but its reference lists results of a randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in 2016.
“In an unpublished trial, non-diabetic subjects (n = 80) with mild cognitive impairment showed significant improvements in some cognitive domains after 12 months of metformin treatment (Luchsinger et al., 2016).”
“51. Luchsinger JA Perez T Chang H Mehta P Steffener J Pradabhan G Ichise M Manly J Devanand DP Bagiella E 2016 Metformin in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a Pilot Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial J Alzheimers Dis 51 501 514”
Citations
Cites
Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin
(2002) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa012512 · Cited by 19,011
Rapamycin fed late in life extends lifespan in genetically heterogeneous mice
Harrison, D. E., Strong, R., Sharp, Z. D., Nelson, J. F., Astle, C. M., Flurkey, K., Nadon, N. L., Wilkinson, J. E., Frenkel, K., Carter, C. S., et al. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08221 · Cited by 3,766
Extending Healthy Life Span—From Yeast to Humans
Fontana, L., Partridge, L., & Longo, V. D. (2010) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1172539 · Cited by 3,023
mTOR is a key modulator of ageing and age-related disease
Johnson, S. C., Rabinovitch, P. S., & Kaeberlein, M. (2013) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11861 · Cited by 1,676
Kinaan, M., Ding, H., & Triggle, C. R. (2015) · Medical Principles and Practice · doi:10.1159/000381643 · Cited by 1,515
Metformin: from mechanisms of action to therapies
Foretz, M., Guigas, B., Bertrand, L., Pollak, M., & Viollet, B. (2014) · Cell Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2014.09.018 · Cited by 1,501
Metformin improves healthspan and lifespan in mice
Martin-Montalvo, A., Mercken, E. M., Mitchell, S. J., Palacios, H. H., Mote, P. L., Scheibye-Knudsen, M., Gomes, A. P., Ward, T. M., Minor, R. K., Blouin, M.-J., et al. (2013) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms3192 · Cited by 1,445
Promoting Health and Longevity through Diet: From Model Organisms to Humans
Fontana, L., & Partridge, L. (2015) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.020 · Cited by 1,245
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 83 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–400 of 1,150
Metformin Protects ARPE-19 Cells from Glyoxal-Induced Oxidative Stress.
Qu, S., Zhang, C., Liu, D., Wu, J., Tian, H., Lü, L., Xu, G., Liu, F., & Zhang, J. (2020) · PubMed Central · doi:10.1155/2020/1740943 · Cited by 44
Autophagy in cancer immunotherapy: Perspective on immune evasion and cell death interactions
Yu, Q., Ding, J., Li, S., & Li, Y. (2024) · Cancer Letters · doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216856 · Cited by 45
Frailty and HIV: Moving from Characterization to Intervention
Erlandson, K. M., & Piggott, D. A. (2021) · Current HIV/AIDS Reports · doi:10.1007/s11904-021-00554-1 · Cited by 44
Senotherapeutics and Their Molecular Mechanism for Improving Aging
Park, J., & Shin, D. W. (2022) · Biomolecules & Therapeutics · doi:10.4062/biomolther.2022.114 · Cited by 45
“Metformin exhibited senomorphic ac- tion by suppressing the phosphorylation of IκB, the cytoplasmic inhibitor of NF-κB, and IκB kinase, which inhibits NF-κB (Moiseeva et al., 2013; Barzilai et al., 2016).”
InfluentialMetformin alters skeletal muscle transcriptome adaptations to resistance training in older adults
Kulkarni, A. S., Peck, B. D., Walton, R. G., Kern, P. A., Mar, J. C., Windham, S. T., Bamman, M. M., Barzilai, N., & Peterson, C. A. (2020) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.104096 · Cited by 44
Self-citationFang, J., Gao, L., Ma, H., Wu, Q., Wu, T., Wu, J., Wang, Q., & Cheng, F. (2017) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00747 · Cited by 43
“Nowadays, metformin is currently being tested as an antiaging drug in several clinical trials, such as NCT02432287 and NCT02308228 (Barzilai et al., 2016).”
BackgroundOnken, B., Sedore, C. A., Coleman-Hulbert, A. L., Hall, D., Johnson, E., Jones, E. G., Banse, S. A., Huynh, P., Guo, S., Xue, J., et al. (2021) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.13488 · Cited by 46
Unveiling the impact of aging on BBB and Alzheimer's disease: Factors and therapeutic implications
Jha, N. K., Jha, N. K., Nuli, M. V., Gupta, S. K., Kanna, S., Gahtani, R. M., Hani, U., Singh, A. K., Abomughaid, M. M., Abomughayedh, A. M., et al. (2024) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2024.102224 · Cited by 43
Metformin and cognition from the perspectives of sex, age, and disease
Chaudhari, K., Reynolds, C. D., & Yang, S.-H. (2020) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-019-00146-3 · Cited by 43
Shah, S. J. (2017) · Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research · doi:10.1007/s12265-017-9759-8 · Cited by 42
“For example, in the Targeting Aging with Metfromin (TAME) trial, subjects ages 65–79 will be enrolled in a large randomized controlled trial to study the effects of metformin on a variety of aging-related disorders, with a composite endpoint that includes incident cardiovascular events, cancer, dementia, and mortality…”
Advances and challenges in geroscience research: An update
Yabluchanskiy, A., Ungvari, Z. I., Csiszár, A., & Tarantini, S. (2018) · Physiology International · doi:10.1556/2060.105.2018.4.32 · Cited by 42
“The concept has been increasingly accepted that by targeting fundamental aging processes, it may be possible to ameliorate a vast array of human diseases associated with old age and is destined to revolutionize the way we think about aging research (6, 28, 29, 43, 50, 84, 85, 88).”
BackgroundPiccirillo, F., Carpenito, M., Verolino, G., Chello, C., Nusca, A., Lusini, M., Spadaccio, C., Nappi, F., Sciascio, G. D., & Nenna, A. (2019) · Mechanisms of Ageing and Development · doi:10.1016/j.mad.2019.111161 · Cited by 42
Visualizing, quantifying, and manipulating mitochondrial DNA in vivo
Prole, D. L., Chinnery, P. F., & Jones, N. S. (2020) · Journal of Biological Chemistry · doi:10.1074/jbc.rev120.015101 · Cited by 42
“Mitophagy can be stimulated by drugs such as the antibiotic actinonin (133) or the anti-diabetic metformin (134).”
BackgroundMetabolic Rewiring in Response to Biguanides Is Mediated by mROS/HIF-1a in Malignant Lymphocytes
Khan, H., Anshu, A., Prasad, A. K., Roy, S., Jeffery, J. J., Kittipongdaja, W., Yang, D. T., & Schieke, S. M. (2019) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.11.007 · Cited by 42
“In addition to its accepted indications of type 2 diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovary syndrome, metformin is studied intensely for its potential antineoplastic and lifespan-extending effects (Barzilai et al., 2016; Vancura et al., 2018).”
BackgroundRepurposing drugs to fight aging: The difficult path from bench to bedside
Vaiserman, A. M., Koliada, A. K., Lushchak, O. V., & Castillo, M. J. (2020) · Medicinal Research Reviews · doi:10.1002/med.21773 · Cited by 42
“To verify this suggestion, a multicenter, placebo controlled, TAME trial in approximately 3000 persons aged 65–79 years has been recently designed.(25) The purpose of this study was to investigate whether metformin could be repurposed to target aging process per se and whether it is able to reduce risks for different…”
BackgroundMeta-Assessment of Metformin Absorption and Disposition Pharmacokinetics in Nine Species
Jeong, Y., & Jusko, W. J. (2021) · Pharmaceuticals · doi:10.3390/ph14060545 · Cited by 43
“Other beneficial effects of metformin reported are weight reduction [97], delay of aging [98,99], and reduced risk of COVID-19-related mortality [16,17].”
BackgroundFischer, F., Grigolon, G., Benner, C., & Ristow, M. (2022) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00017.2021 · Cited by 42
Taming expectations of metformin as a treatment to extend healthspan
Konopka, A. R., & Miller, B. F. (2019) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-019-00057-3 · Cited by 42
Geroscience in the Age of COVID-19
Barzilai, N., Appleby, J. C., Austad, S. N., Cuervo, A. M., Kaeberlein, M. R., González-Billault, C. E., Lederman, S., Stambler, I., & Sierra, F. (2020) · Aging and Disease · doi:10.14336/ad.2020.0629 · Cited by 41
“In addition, both clinical and observational trials in humans show that the use of this drug is associated with less type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular diseases, cancer, cognitive decline and overall mortality [10].”
BackgroundSelf-citationCedillo, L., Li, S., Ahsan, F. M., Stuhr, N. L., Zhou, Y., Zhang, Y., Adedoja, A., Murphy, L., Yerevanian, A. I., Emans, S. W., et al. (2023) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.82210 · Cited by 42
“, 2013; Onken and Driscoll, 2010), and therefore may reduce agingrelated diseases in humans (Barzilai et al., 2016).”
BackgroundTesting the Geroscience Hypothesis: Early Days
Kritchevsky, S. B., & Justice, J. N. (2020) · The Journals of Gerontology: Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glz267 · Cited by 33
Self-citationVest, L. S., Koraishy, F. M., Zhang, Z., Lam, N. N., Schnitzler, M. A., Dharnidharka, V. R., Axelrod, D., Naik, A. S., Alhamad, T. A., Kasiske, B. L., et al. (2018) · Clinical Transplantation · doi:10.1111/ctr.13302 · Cited by 41
Hernández-Álvarez, D., Mena‐Montes, B., Toledo-Pérez, R., Pedraza-Vázquez, G., López-Cervantes, S. P., Morales-Salazar, A., Hernández-Cruz, E., Lazzarini-Lechuga, R. C., Vázquez-Cárdenas, R. R., Vilchis-DeLaRosa, S., et al. (2019) · Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity · doi:10.1155/2019/3428543 · Cited by 41
“This is very important since recently two trials to evaluate MTF antiaging capacity with elderly people were approved, one with prediabetic [43] and the other one with healthy people [44, 45]; hence, knowing that, in an animal model, long-term MTF treatment used did not nullify the beneficial effect given by exercise…”
BackgroundSanz, P., Serratosa, J. M., & Sánchez, M. P. (2021) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms22105351 · Cited by 41
“In addition, it delays the aging process [12,15,16] and alleviates inflammation associated with it [17], and also modulates the microbiota to promote health [3,18].”
BackgroundTargeting Mitochondrial Network Architecture in Down Syndrome and Aging
Mollo, N., Cicatiello, R., Aurilia, M., Scognamiglio, R., Genesio, R., Charalambous, M., Paladino, S., Conti, A. M. F., Nitsch, L., & Izzo, A. (2020) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms21093134 · Cited by 41
““Targeting Aging with Metformin” (TAME) was one of the first large clinical trial projects to be proposed, in 2016 [170] although as of today, March 2020, it is not yet reported by ClinicalTrials.”
BackgroundFranzin, R., Stasi, A., Ranieri, E., Netti, G. S., Cantaluppi, V., Gesualdo, L., Stallone, G., & Castellano, G. (2021) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.630419 · Cited by 41
Nurcahyanti, A. D. R., Jap, A., Lady, J., Prismawan, D., Sharopov, F. S., Daoud, R., Wink, M., & Sobeh, M. (2021) · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112138 · Cited by 41
Restoration of neuronal progenitors by partial reprogramming in the aged neurogenic niche
Xu, L., Ramirez-Matias, J., Hauptschein, M., Sun, E., Lunger, J. C., Buckley, M. T., & Brunet, A. (2024) · Nature Aging · doi:10.1038/s43587-024-00594-3 · Cited by 41
Hazuda, H. P., Pan, Q., Florez, H. J., Luchsinger, J. A., Crandall, J. P., Venditti, E. M., Golden, S. H., Kriska, A. M., & Bray, G. A. (2021) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glaa295 · Cited by 40
“A systematic review of studies examining the potential geroprotective effect of metformin in humans concluded that the apparent reduction in diseases of aging (ie, cancer and cardiovascular disease) and all-cause mortality associated with metformin use suggest that metformin may be extending both life and health spans…”
BackgroundSelf-citationBischof, E. Y., Siow, R. C. M., Zhavoronkov, A. A., & Kaeberlein, M. R. (2021) · The Lancet Healthy Longevity · doi:10.1016/s2666-7568(20)30068-4 · Cited by 40
Zhao, X., Zhang, X., Pei, J., Liu, Y., Niu, W., & Sun, H. (2023) · Diabetologia · doi:10.1007/s00125-023-05985-6 · Cited by 40
Metabolomics profiling of metformin-mediated metabolic reprogramming bypassing AMPKα
Yan, M., Qi, H., Xia, T., Zhao, X., Wang, W., Wang, Z., Lu, C., Ning, Z., Chen, H., Li, T., et al. (2018) · Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2018.11.010 · Cited by 40
Physical activity and fitness in childhood cancer survivors: A scoping review
Wogksch, M. D., Goodenough, C. G., Finch, E. R., Partin, R. E., & Ness, K. K. (2021) · Aging and Cancer · doi:10.1002/aac2.12042 · Cited by 40
Aging Immune System and Its Correlation With Liability to Severe Lung Complications
Li, Y., Wang, C., & Peng, M. (2021) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.735151 · Cited by 40
“Second, approaches that alter metabolic activities such as treatment with metformin (9) or mTOR inhibitors (10) could help improve immunity and resistance to infectious diseases in older adults.”
BackgroundInnovations in Geroscience to enhance mobility in older adults
Anton, S. D., Cruz‐Almeida, Y., Singh, A., Alpert, J. M., Bensadon, B. A., Cabrera, M., Clark, D. J., Ebner, N. C., Esser, K. A., Fillingim, R. B., et al. (2020) · Experimental Gerontology · doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.111123 · Cited by 40
Adipose tissue ageing: implications for metabolic health and lifespan
Wang, G., Song, A., & Wang, Q. A. (2025) · Nature Reviews Endocrinology · doi:10.1038/s41574-025-01142-8 · Cited by 40
“Metformin has been used over the past decade for age-related diseases, including cancer, muscle degeneration and inflammageing 111,233,234 .”
Targeting the hallmarks of aging: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Sanada, F., Hayashi, S., & Morishita, R. (2025) · Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine · doi:10.3389/fcvm.2025.1631578 · Cited by 40
“Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic drug, has shown geroprotective potential by activating AMPK and inhibiting mTOR, thereby improving mitochondrial function and reducing in fl ammation and insulin resistance — key features of metabolic aging (45, 46).”
Salemi, M., Mogavero, M. P., Lanza, G., Mongioì, L. M., Calogero, A. E., & Ferri, R. (2022) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells11121930 · Cited by 39
“For instance, metformin, a biguanide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, appears to decrease the risk of cancer, dementia and other age-related diseases through multiple mechanisms [69,70], including decreased levels of insulin and IGF–1, inhibition of the mTOR pathway, inhibition of mitochondrial function, a decrea…”
BackgroundWan, Q.-L., Meng, X., Fu, X., Chen, B., Yang, J., Yang, H., & Zhou, Q. (2019) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.102033 · Cited by 39
“To date, some drugs that can affect lifespan and healthspan have been found, such as rapamycin and metformin, which increase lifespan in multiple species [4, 5].”
BackgroundWeiss, R., Fernández, E., Liu, Y., Strong, R., & Salmon, A. B. (2018) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.101401 · Cited by 39
“Certainly upcoming human studies could be used to address this type of question [45].”
BackgroundFOXO3 and Exceptional Longevity: Insights From Hydra to Humans
Davy, P. M. C., Allsopp, R., Donlon, T. A., Morris, B. J., Willcox, D. C., & Willcox, B. J. (2018) · Current topics in developmental biology/Current Topics in Developmental Biology · doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2017.10.001 · Cited by 39
The direct targets of metformin in diabetes and beyond
Yao, L., Wang, L., Zhang, R., Soukas, A. A., & Wu, L. (2024) · Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.tem.2024.07.017 · Cited by 40
Role of senescence in the chronic health consequences of COVID-19
Wissler Gerdes, E. O., Vanichkachorn, G., Verdoorn, B. P., Hanson, G. J., Joshi, A. Y., Murad, M. H., Rizza, S. A., Hurt, R. T., Tchkonia, T., & Kirkland, J. L. (2022) · Translational Research · doi:10.1016/j.trsl.2021.10.003 · Cited by 38
Xu, L., Ma, F., Huang, J., Leung, K. L. F., Qin, C., Lu, W. W., Guo, X., & Tang, B. (2021) · Biomacromolecules · doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01488 · Cited by 38
Hunt, N. J., Lockwood, G. P., Kang, S. W. S., Westwood, L. J., Limantoro, C., Chrzanowski, W., McCourt, P., Kuncic, Z., Couteur, D. G. L., & Cogger, V. C. (2021) · ACS Nano · doi:10.1021/acsnano.0c09278 · Cited by 38
Na, H., Pyo, J.-H., Jeon, H.-J., Park, J., Chung, H., & Yoo, M. (2018) · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications · doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.02.191 · Cited by 38
Whitman, E. T., Elliott, M. L., Knodt, A. R., Abraham, W. C., Anderson, T. J., Cutfield, N. J., Hogan, S., Ireland, D., Melzer, T. R., Ramrakha, S., et al. (2025) · Nature Aging · doi:10.1038/s43587-025-00897-z · Cited by 37
“DunedinPACNI may also be adopted as a surrogate endpoint to accelerate our ability to develop, prioritize and evaluate potential antiaging interventions that slow aging and prevent disease 81,82 .”
Impact of an 8‐Year Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on an Index of Multimorbidity
Espeland, M. A., Gaussoin, S. A., Bahnson, J., Vaughan, E. M., Knowler, W. C., Simpson, F. R., Hazuda, H. P., Johnson, K. C., Munshi, M. N., Coday, M., et al. (2020) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/jgs.16672 · Cited by 37
“Food and Federal Drug Administration for a drug indication.(37,38) As seen in Figure 2, there is some evidence for heterogeneity in intervention effects among components of the multimorbidity index.”
BackgroundSelf-citationGhany, R. A., Palacio, A., Dawkins, E., Chen, G., McCarter, D. F., Forbes, E., Chung, B., & Tamariz, L. J. (2021) · Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome Clinical Research & Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.dsx.2021.02.022 · Cited by 37
“Metformin’s anti-inflammatory effects offer biological plausibility to this finding [4,9].”
A geroscience motivated approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease: Senolytics move to clinical trials
Gonzales, M. M., Krishnamurthy, S., Garbarino, V. R., Daeihagh, A. S., Gillispie, G. J., Deep, G., Craft, S., & Orr, M. E. (2021) · Mechanisms of Ageing and Development · doi:10.1016/j.mad.2021.111589 · Cited by 37
A comparative study of metformin and nicotinamide riboside in alleviating tissue aging in rats
Geng, L., Zhang, B., Liu, H., Wang, S., Cai, Y., Yang, K., Zou, Z., Jiang, X., Liu, Z., Li, W., et al. (2022) · Life Medicine · doi:10.1093/lifemedi/lnac045 · Cited by 37
“Small molecule chemicals like metformin (MET) and nicotinamide riboside (NR), which play regulatory roles in various metabolic pathways, have been reported to show protective effects against aging-related properties [9–11].”
Potential Clinical Implications of Senotherapies for Cardiovascular Disease
Suda, M., Katsuumi, G., Tchkonia, T., Kirkland, J. L., & Minamino, T. (2023) · Circulation Journal · doi:10.1253/circj.cj-23-0657 · Cited by 37
Immunosenescence and cancer: Opportunities and challenges
Fu, Z., Xu, H., Yue, L., Zheng, W., Pan, L., Gao, F., & Liu, X. (2023) · Medicine · doi:10.1097/md.0000000000036045 · Cited by 37
“[99] Positive impacts on aging have also been noted in mouse models, including C57BL/6 mice with relatively longer lifespan and genetically hybrid mice.”
BackgroundSoo, S. K., Rudich, P. D., Traa, A., Harris-Gauthier, N., Shields, H. J., & Raamsdonk, J. M. V. (2020) · Mechanisms of Ageing and Development · doi:10.1016/j.mad.2020.111297 · Cited by 37
“Based on these promising results, a large randomized controlled study has been planned to determine if metformin affects lifespan and healthspan in healthy humans (Barzilai et al., 2016).”
Metformin protects lens epithelial cells against senescence in a naturally aged mouse model
Chen, M., Fu, Y., Wang, X., Wu, R., Su, D., Zhou, N., & Qi, Y. (2022) · Cell Death Discovery · doi:10.1038/s41420-021-00800-w · Cited by 37
“Previous studies have shown that the senescence of LECs is the main cause of ARC [25].”
BackgroundMetformin: From diabetes to cancer to prolongation of life
Sirtori, C. R., Castiglione, S., & Pavanello, C. (2024) · Pharmacological Research · doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107367 · Cited by 38
Memantine induces apoptosis and inhibits cell cycle progression in LNCaP prostate cancer cells
Albayrak, G., Konaç, E., Dikmen, A., & Bilen, C. (2017) · Human & Experimental Toxicology · doi:10.1177/0960327117747025 · Cited by 36
“Several epidemiologic researches have indicated that metformin usage is associated with decreased risks of cancer incidence and mortality rates.(10) Metformin also decreases glucose oxidation and increases the dependency of prostate cancer cells on reductive glutamine metabolism.”
BackgroundSong, J., Jiang, G., Zhang, J., Guo, J., Li, Z., Hao, K., Liu, L., Cheng, Z., Tong, X., & Dai, F. (2019) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.101746 · Cited by 36
“Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2015 [12].”
BackgroundInfluentialThe Cutting Edge: The Role of mTOR Signaling in Laminopathies
Chiarini, F., Evangelisti, C., Cenni, V., Fazio, A., Paganelli, F., Martelli, A. M., & Lattanzi, G. (2019) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms20040847 · Cited by 36
“This drug shows anti-aging effects in many models [163], and an observational and retrospective study in diabetic patients revealed that metformin treatment leads to a strong decrease in all-cause death and in the onset of age-related diseases [164].”
BackgroundAge-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Interface of Microbiome–Immune–Neuronal Interactions
Prajapati, S. K., Jain, S., & Yadav, H. (2025) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glaf038 · Cited by 37
Blümel, J. E., Arteaga, E., Aedo, S., Arriola‐Montenegro, J., López, M., Martino, M., Miranda, C., Miranda, O., Mostajo, D., Ñañez, M., et al. (2020) · Gynecological Endocrinology · doi:10.1080/09513590.2020.1718092 · Cited by 35
“It decreases cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, and stimulates autophagy [1].”
BackgroundThe Aged Intestine: Performance and Rejuvenation
Wang, Q., Qi, Y., Shen, W., Xu, J., Wang, L., Chen, S., Hou, T., & Si, J. (2021) · Aging and Disease · doi:10.14336/ad.2021.0202 · Cited by 36
Teissier, T., Temkin, V., Pollak, R. D., & Cox, L. S. (2022) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.812157 · Cited by 35
Fecal microbiota transplantation, a tool to transfer healthy longevity
Novelle, M. G., Naranjo-Martínez, B., Lopez-Canovas, J. L., & Díaz‐Ruiz, A. (2024) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2024.102585 · Cited by 35
“Modulation of DNA repair, collagen expression, and metabolic processes suggest potential anti-aging effects (Barzilai et al., 2016; ClinicalTrials, 2021; Padki and Stambler, 2021).”
Zheng, B., Su, B., Ahmadi‐Abhari, S., Kapogiannis, D., Tzoulaki, I., Riboli, E., & Middleton, L. (2023) · Alzheimer's & Dementia · doi:10.1002/alz.13349 · Cited by 34
“No 2).”
Potential Role of Antioxidants as Adjunctive Therapy in Chagas Disease
Villamil, J. P. S., Bautista‐Niño, P. K., Serrano, N. C., Rincón, M. Y., & Garg, N. J. (2020) · Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity · doi:10.1155/2020/9081813 · Cited by 34
Treating age-related multimorbidity: the drug discovery challenge
Ermogenous, C., Green, C., Jackson, T., Ferguson, M. A. J., & Lord, J. M. (2020) · Drug Discovery Today · doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2020.06.016 · Cited by 34
On the wake of metformin: Do anti-diabetic SGLT2 inhibitors exert anti-aging effects?
Scisciola, L., Olivieri, F., Ambrosino, C., Barbieri, M., Rizzo, M. R., & Paolisso, G. (2023) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2023.102131 · Cited by 34
“…decline in mobility or cognitive function, or onset of severe activities of daily living limitation); (iii) biological outcomes: biomarkers of aging comprise an exploratory trial outcome intended to strengthen the biological un-derpinnings guiding the TAME trial (TAME BIO) (Barzilai et al., 2016).”
BackgroundGhosh, P., Swanson, L., Sayed, I. M., Mittal, Y., Lim, B. B. C., Ibeawuchi, S., Foretz, M., Viollet, B., Sahoo, D., & Das, S. (2020) · Life Science Alliance · doi:10.26508/lsa.201900481 · Cited by 34
“It is possible that the observed anti-ageing properties of metformin (via multiple widely pleiotropic effects reviewed in Barzilai et al (2016)), as in the case of obesity and diabetes, may begin by preserving the gut barrier function, thereby reducing age-related in fl ammation and metabolic…”
Baradaran, Z., Vakilian, A., Zare, M., Hashemzehi, M., Hosseini, M., Dinpanah, H., & Beheshti, F. (2021) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113399 · Cited by 34
Promise of metformin for preventing age-related cognitive dysfunction
Shetty, A. K., Madhu, L. N., & Kodali, M. (2021) · Neural Regeneration Research · doi:10.4103/1673-5374.320971 · Cited by 34
“…Aging with MET, currently in preparation, testing the effects of MET treatment on molecular aging pathways and the incidence of age-related multimorbidity and functional decline, is in the right direction to validate MET as an anti-aging drug (Barzilai et al., 2016; Kulkarni et al., 2020).”
Unraveling aging from transcriptomics
Huang, Y., Zhu, S., Yao, S., Zhai, H., Liu, C., & Han, J. J. (2024) · Trends in Genetics · doi:10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.006 · Cited by 34
Aging and Immunometabolic Adaptations to Thermogenesis
Lettieri‐Barbato, D., & Aquilano, K. (2020) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2020.101143 · Cited by 33
Mitochondrial targets of metformin—Are they physiologically relevant?
Pecinová, A., Brázdová, A., Drahota, Z., Houštěk, J., & Mráček, T. (2019) · BioFactors · doi:10.1002/biof.1548 · Cited by 33
“Taken together, metformin is long established drug for treatment type II diabetes, and emerging one for treatment of cancer,69–71 heart failure,(64,65) or attenuation of aging process.(72) In all those conditions, cellular metabolism is perturbed and metformin can clearly modulate glucose metabolism at systemic level.”
BackgroundKremslehner, C., Miller, A., Nica, R., Nagelreiter, I., Narzt, M., Golabi, B., Vorstandlechner, V., Mildner, M., Lachner, J., Tschachler, E., et al. (2020) · Redox Biology · doi:10.1016/j.redox.2020.101583 · Cited by 34
“Numerous large scale ongoing studies investigate whether metformin would counteract age related decline also in non-diabetic healthy individuals [71].”
BackgroundSrour, B., Kaaks, R., Johnson, T., Hynes, L. C., Kuhn, T. E., & Katzke, V. A. (2021) · European Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s10654-021-00828-3 · Cited by 34
“In context of a large-scale geroscience-guided clinical trial that aims to examine the effects of metformin treatment on the incidence of age-related chronic diseases and functional degeneration [16], an expert panel performed a comprehensive literature review and identified a shortlist of about 10 selected blood-base…”
BackgroundCaloric Restriction Research: New Perspectives on the Biology of Aging
Anderson, R. M., Couteur, D. G. L., & de Cabo, R. (2017) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glx212 · Cited by 33
Organismal metabolism regulates the expansion of oncogenic PIK3CA mutant clones in normal esophagus
Herms, A., Colom, B., Piedrafita, G., Kalogeropoulou, A., Banerjee, U., King, C., Abby, E., Murai, K., Caseda, I., Fernández‐Antorán, D., et al. (2024) · Nature Genetics · doi:10.1038/s41588-024-01891-8 · Cited by 33
“The concept of remodeling the mutational landscape of normal tissues described here sets the basis for studies on how metabolic conditions and treatments may affect mutant selection in human tissues and represents a new potential point of intervention in aging and cancer prevention 58–60 .”
Targeting the hallmarks of aging to improve influenza vaccine responses in older adults
Cadar, A. N., Martin, D. E., & Bartley, J. M. (2023) · Immunity & Ageing · doi:10.1186/s12979-023-00348-6 · Cited by 34
“Metformin is FDA approved diabetes drug that modulates the AMPK/mTOR pathways among other metabolic targets and is also a candidate anti-aging drug [116].”
BackgroundGuaraldi, G., Milić, J., Cesari, M., Leibovici, L., Mandreoli, F., Missier, P., Rozzini, R., Cattelan, A. M., Motta, F., Mussini, C., et al. (2022) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2022.101686 · Cited by 33
Inclusion of Older Adults in Research: Ensuring Relevance, Feasibility, and Rigor
Kuchel, G. A. (2019) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/jgs.15802 · Cited by 33
“Third, by emphasizing clinical trials designed to study the impact of interventions on one disease at a time, opportunities for addressing aging as a major shared risk factor for multiple chronic diseases and for the validation of geroscience-guided therapies have been lost.(8)”
BackgroundTsuji, A., Yoshikawa, S., Ikeda, Y., Taniguchi, K., Sawamura, H., Morikawa, S., Nakashima, M., Asai, T. T., & Matsuda, S. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24065465 · Cited by 33
“Additionally, metformin can be used to treat a diversity of agingrelated disorders, such as cardiovascular disease or cognitive decline [56].”
BackgroundLongevity pharmacology comes of age
de Magalhães, J. P. (2021) · Drug Discovery Today · doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.015 · Cited by 32
The Function of Metformin in Aging-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
Song, Y., Wu, Z., & Zhao, P. (2022) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.865524 · Cited by 32
“) (Barzilai et al., 2016), and the results of the trial have not yet been published.”
BackgroundEspinoza, S. E., Jiwani, R. B., Wang, J., & Wang, C.-P. (2019) · Clinical Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.01.006 · Cited by 32
Perspectives of Homo sapiens lifespan extension: focus on external or internal resources?
Skulachev, V. P., Shilovsky, G. A., Putyatina, T. S., Popov, N. A., Markov, A. V., Skulachev, M. V., & Садовничий, В. А. (2020) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.102981 · Cited by 32
Chronic HIV Infection and Aging: Application of a Geroscience-Guided Approach
Masters, M. C., LANDAY, A. L., Robbins, P. D., Tchkonia, T., Kirkland, J. L., Kuchel, G. A., Niedernhofer, L. J., & Palella, F. J. (2022) · JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes · doi:10.1097/qai.0000000000002858 · Cited by 32
How to promote healthy aging across the life cycle
Cocchi, C., Zazzara, M. B., Levati, E., Calvani, R., & Onder, G. (2025) · European Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2025.03.003 · Cited by 32
Metformin Is a Pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP)-Competitive Inhibitor of SHMT2
Tramonti, A., Cuyàs, E., Encinar, J. A., Pietzke, M., Paone, A., Verdura, S., Arbusà, A., Martı́n-Castillo, B., Giardina, G., Joven, J., et al. (2021) · Cancers · doi:10.3390/cancers13164009 · Cited by 31
“Despite the intense effort by many investigators in the last decade, the detailed mo‐ lecular targets mediating the anti‐cancer effects of the anti‐diabetic biguanide metformin remain unclear [60].”
BackgroundMetformin protects against mouse oocyte apoptosis defects induced by arecoline
Li, W., Zang, C., Yin, S., Shen, W., Sun, Q., & Zhao, M. (2020) · Cell Proliferation · doi:10.1111/cpr.12809 · Cited by 31
Bajetto, A., Pattarozzi, A., Sirito, R., Barbieri, F., & Florio, T. (2023) · International Immunopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111078 · Cited by 31
Rodent models of frailty and their application in preclinical research
Banga, S., Heinze-Milne, S., & Howlett, S. E. (2019) · Mechanisms of Ageing and Development · doi:10.1016/j.mad.2019.01.008 · Cited by 31
Chhunchha, B., Kubo, E., & Singh, D. P. (2022) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells11193021 · Cited by 31
Pereira, S. M., Ribeiro, R., & Logarinho, E. (2019) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms20040938 · Cited by 31
“Some noteworthy examples of anti-aging drug discovery are the use of small molecules, such as resveratrol, targeting the pharmacological manipulation of sirtuin 1 [109], rapamycin, through the inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway [110], and metformin, which was initially approved as a drug to treat diabetes, but t…”
BackgroundTanaka, Y., Konishi, A., Obinata, H., & Tsuneoka, M. (2019) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-019-55075-0 · Cited by 31
Is There an Association Between Metformin Exposure and Frailty?
Baskaran, D., Aparicio‐Ugarriza, R., Ferri‐Guerra, J., Milyani, R. G., Florez, H. J., & Ruiz, J. G. (2020) · Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine · doi:10.1177/2333721420924956 · Cited by 31
Gao, A. W., de Bos, J. U., Sterken, M. G., Kammenga, J. E., Smith, R. L., & Houtkooper, R. H. (2017) · Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease · doi:10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.09.006 · Cited by 31
“The first human clinical trial with metformin treatment — targeting aging with metformin (TAME) — has recently been launched to study if and how metformin delays the onset of age-related disorders (Barzilai et al., 2016)”
BackgroundPhenotypic Screening in C. elegans as a Tool for the Discovery of New Geroprotective Drugs
Bulterijs, S., & Braeckman, B. P. (2020) · Pharmaceuticals · doi:10.3390/ph13080164 · Cited by 32
“What makes this trial unique is that it specifically aims to evaluate the effects of the drug intervention on the aging process through the use of a composite outcome that includes cardiovascular events, cancer, dementia and mortality as a primary endpoint [37].”
BackgroundAnti-senescence therapies: a new concept to address cardiovascular disease
Stojanović, S. D., Thum, T., & Bauersachs, J. K. (2025) · Cardiovascular Research · doi:10.1093/cvr/cvaf030 · Cited by 32
“102 Despite its pleiotropic effects at suppressing senescence, the positive effect of metformin on CVD outcomes in non-diabetics is debateable.”
Gibbs, V. K., Brewer, R. A., Miyasaki, N., Patki, A., & Smith, D. L. (2017) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glx127 · Cited by 30
“When examining those metabolites, which were significantly lower compared with the CON (n = 236), ACA and CR groups shared a lower proportion of approximately one fifth (n = 56 metabolites), 35 of which were unique to ACA (with females having a greater number of sex-specific, significantly higher metabolites [10, 18])…”
Background
Metadata
- Authors
- Barzilai, N., Crandall, J. P., Kritchevsky, S. B., & Espeland, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences (US)
- Corresponding author
- Barzilai, Nir
- Venue
- Cell Metabolism
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-06
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1060-1065
- ISSN
- 1550-4131 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5943638
- OpenAlex
- W2422981416
- Cited by
- 1,096
- References
- 83
- Citations by year
- 2026: 129 · 2025: 117 · 2024: 101 · 2023: 108 · 2022: 105 · 2021: 131 · 2020: 127 · 2019: 110 · 2018: 97 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 11
- FWCI
- 8.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Cell Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (P01AG021654, R24AG044396, P01AG027734, P30AG038072, R37AG018381, R01AG046949, P30AG021332)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01DK048349)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Keywords
- metformin, aging, lifespan extension, healthspan, age-related diseases, anti-aging drugs, drug repurposing
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Longevity, Metformin, Models, Biological, Models, Animal
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-11-09, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).
A second model labelled each claim on 2026-11-09 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).
Cited sources are checked with a language model’s help (gpt-6-sol).
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review