A 20-cent pill discovered in 1950s could be secret to anti-aging - as scientists launch trial involving 3,000 people

A 20-cent diabetes drug could be the key to living longer, according to scientists.

A series of trials from the American Federation for Aging Research is investigating if metformin - the world's most common treatment for type 2 diabetes - could protect against age-related diseases like heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. 

The team believes that this could be due to the drug's anti-inflammatory properties, which is designed to reduce how much glucose circulates in thge blood. 

At a time when biohackers are promoting anti-aging regimens worth thousands of dollars, metformin's low cost could be a more accessible way to add a few years to your lifespan. 

Metformin has been used to treat type 2 diabetes since the 1950s and costs just 20 cents per pill. Researchers are now working to see if it can lead to a longer lifespan

The researchers have launched the Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) Trial, a series of nationwide, six-year trials at 14 institutions across the US. The main institution will be Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina. 

The team plans to recruit more than 3,000 patients between ages 65 and 79 to 'test whether those taking metformin experience delayed development or progression of age-related chronic diseases - such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia,' according to its website.  

These suggested benefits are based on previous research on animals, such as a 2013 study that found improved lifespan in mice. 

'Studies have already shown that metformin can delay aging in animals,' the TAME researchers wrote. 'It may also influence fundamental aging factors that underlie multiple age-related conditions in humans.'

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The team said that metformin is the focus due to its low cost, which is about $1 per day with insurance. The goal is to get metformin FDA approved for aging, 'to signify that aging can be "treated."'

Dr Steven Austad, senior scientific advisor at the American Federation for Aging Research, told NPR: 'I don't know if metformin increases lifespan in people, but the evidence that exists suggests that it very well might.'

Metformin was first used to treat type 2 diabetes in the 1950s in France and FDA approved for the condition in the US in the 1990s. It's generally so effective and affordable that the World Health Organization considers it an 'essential' medication for pharmacies worldwide.

Since then, recent studies have pointed to a host of other benefits, including weight loss and a reduced risk of long Covid. 

The mechanism by which metformin causes weight loss is unclear, but doctors have several theories.

Because it reduces how much glucose circulates in the blood, it may decrease how much excess glucose is stored as fat. 

It has also been shown to reduce hunger cues, which could suppress appetite and thus lead to weight loss.

It reduces plasma glucose and has been shown to increase levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). 

GLP-1 affects areas of the brain that regulate appetite and reward. A weaker appetite often translates to less caloric intake, which can lead to weight loss. GLP-1 is also believed to increase the body's sensitivity to leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells that plays a role in regulating body weight.

A January meta-analysis in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute also found that the drug reduced the risk of several cancers, including colon, bladder, and blood cancers. 

In terms of humans and aging, a British study found a lower risk of dementia and mild cognitive decline in type 2 diabetics taking metformin, though Dr Austad cautions that much of the evidence is observational, and the TAME trial will look to find out exactly how metformin can decrease age-related diseases. 

The researchers are currently raising money to fund the TAME trial.