Metformin is a drug that has been used for eons to treat diabetics. But it has possible anti-ageing benefits making it the new darling of the Silicon-valley moguls and all these who are seeking an edge in the never-ending quest to find the magical longevity nostrum. So along with the tech mavens who pride themselves on being at the forefront of innovation should we all be embracing metformin because of its reputed health advantages?
Metformin can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, reduce blood sugar levels and quell inflammation, all longevity promoters allowing this drug to extend the lifespan of worms and mice but trials on humans have just began. This drug doesn’t come without a downside. It can lower vitamin B12 levels, an important brain protecting nutrient, thereby raising homocysteine, a protein that is usually kept in check by adequate amounts of vitamin B12, the consequence possibly increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s according to limited research. Most trials however do show that Metformin protects against Alzheimer’s, probably because some of the benefits listed above.
Experts advise that until clinical trials which are currently underway to determine if metformin is indeed the Silicon-valley saviour are completed we sit tight and let the tech titans be the lab rats.
