A common diabetes medicine that has been used for many years may soon have a surprising new purpose.
Scientists now believe that Metformin, a low-cost drug taken by millions of people around the world to control blood sugar, could also help older adults protect their muscles and recover better after illness, injury, or surgery.
Researchers from the University of Utah Health say the medicine may help aging muscles stay stronger by reducing damage caused by harmful old cells inside the body.
As people grow older, losing muscle becomes a major health problem. Many older adults become weaker after spending time in bed because of sickness, surgery, or injury. Even a short period of rest can cause muscles to shrink quickly.
This muscle loss can make everyday tasks much harder and can increase the risk of falling, slower healing, loss of independence, and long-term health problems. Doctors have been searching for safe and affordable ways to help older people recover strength faster.
The new study focused on special cells called senescent cells. These cells are sometimes described as “zombie-like” because they stop working properly but do not die when they should. Instead, they stay inside the body and release chemicals that can cause inflammation and tissue damage.
In younger people, these cells can sometimes help with healing after an injury. But in older adults, the cells often remain for too long and begin causing problems. They may lead to scarring in muscle tissue and make it harder for muscles to repair themselves.
The researchers discovered that Metformin appears to calm down these harmful cells. By reducing the effects of the senescent cells, the medicine may help muscles recover better and reduce the amount of scarring inside muscle tissue.
This finding is important because muscle scarring can limit strength and movement for older adults after surgery or long periods of inactivity.
The research team was led by Dr. Micah Drummond at the University of Utah Health. To test the idea, the scientists carried out a small study involving 20 healthy older adults. Before the experiment started, each participant had a muscle biopsy and an MRI scan so the researchers could closely examine their muscles.
The participants were then divided into two groups. One group received Metformin, while the other group received a placebo, which was a pill without any active medicine.
Next came the difficult part of the study. All participants stayed in bed for five days. Scientists know that bed rest can quickly weaken muscles, especially in older adults.
After the bed rest period, the participants had another set of scans and biopsies. Then they returned to normal movement for seven days before having one final muscle biopsy.
The results gave scientists reason to feel hopeful. The people who took Metformin lost less muscle during bed rest compared to those who took the placebo. Their muscles also showed less scarring afterward. In addition, researchers found fewer harmful senescent cells inside the muscle tissue of people who used the drug.
Lead author Jonathan Petrocelli explained that the main goal is to help older adults stay healthier and more physically independent as they age.
Strong muscles are very important for maintaining balance, walking safely, recovering from illness, and continuing daily activities. A treatment that helps protect muscles could improve quality of life for many people.
The researchers are also studying whether combining Metformin with leucine, an amino acid linked to muscle growth, might create even stronger benefits. Early animal studies have shown encouraging results, although more human research is still needed before doctors can fully understand how well the treatment works.
One reason scientists are excited about Metformin is that the drug is already widely used and well understood. Dr. Drummond described it as affordable, effective, and generally safe.
Because doctors have prescribed it for diabetes for many years, researchers already know a great deal about its side effects and long-term safety. This could make it easier and faster to explore new uses for the medicine compared to creating an entirely new drug from the beginning.
The findings may be especially useful for older adults recovering from surgeries such as knee replacements, hip operations, or illnesses that require long hospital stays.
During recovery, many patients experience muscle weakness that can continue for months. A treatment that protects muscle during bed rest could help people return to normal life more quickly and safely.
Although the study was small, experts say it opens the door to larger future studies. Researchers still need to learn the best dose, how long the medicine should be used, and which patients could benefit the most. However, the early results suggest that a familiar diabetes drug could one day become an important tool for healthy aging.
The study was published in the scientific journal Aging Cell. Scientists hope this research will lead to new ways of helping older adults remain active, independent, and strong later in life.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
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