Published on: May 19, 2025
In a multi-institutional study published online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences on May 19, 2025, researchers investigated the link between metformin use and increased lifespan among postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. Compared to sulfonylureas—another class of diabetes medications—metformin use was associated with a higher likelihood of reaching age 90 or beyond, a milestone referred to as exceptional longevity.
The study’s key finding revealed that metformin users had a 30% lower risk of dying before age 90 compared to those using sulfonylureas. However, since the comparison did not involve a placebo, further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms driving this association.
Data for the study came from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a large-scale, long-term national study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With over 30 years of follow-up, the WHI has played a pivotal role in advancing women’s health research since its launch in the 1990s.
Key highlights of the WHI include:
Enrollment of 161,808 women aged 50–79 across 40 clinical centers nationwide during the mid-1990s.
Continued participation of more than 42,000 women today, now aged 78–108.
A comprehensive platform for studying disease risk, early detection, prevention, and aging-related health outcomes.
More than 2,400 scientific publications derived from WHI data, shaping clinical practice and public health policy in the U.S.
The current study, led by Associate Professor Aladdin H. Shadyab, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Distinguished Professor Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D., M.P.H., at the University of California San Diego’s Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and School of Medicine, adds to the growing body of evidence supporting metformin’s potential role in enhancing human healthspan and longevity.
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