Common drug shows potential in reversing ageing
A common medication has been found to have anti-ageing qualities, with scientists finding that the drug can de-age monkeys.
Metformin, a cheap and common diabetes drug that has been used since the 1950s, could be an anti-ageing elixir, with scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Beijing Institute of Genomics using the pill to "markedly" slow down ageing in the animals.
According to the experts, the medication reduced deterioration of the brain and boosted cognitive abilities in the primates while also slowing down bone loss and aiding in the "rejuvenation" of several tissues and organs.
The most significant improvements were seen in the liver and frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for language, reasoning, problem solving, memory, movement and personality.
Researchers said all of the findings led to the conclusion that "metformin can reduce biological age indicators" up to six years, with the medication paving the way for ageing reversal in humans.
The drug was previously tested on mice, but since testing the medication on Cynomolgus monkeys - that are both physiologically and functionally similar to humans - the tests have shown more promise for potential human trials.
The researchers said of the 40-month study, "Our research pioneers the systemic reduction of multi-dimensional biological age in primates through metformin, paving the way for advancing pharmaceutical strategies against human ageing."
The scientists added, "[The study] represents an important advance in the quest to delay human ageing, with geriatric medicine research gradually shifting its focus from treating individual chronic diseases to systemic intervention against ageing."
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