A decades-old diabetes medication, metformin, is showing potential to significantly extend the lifespan of some women, according to a recent study published in late November 2025. Analyses of thousands of medical records suggest a correlation between metformin use and increased chances of living beyond the age of 90.
The findings, initially reported by Science et Vie, have sparked renewed interest in the drug’s broader health effects beyond its established role in managing type 2 diabetes. Metformin has been prescribed for diabetes for approximately 60 years.
Researchers are investigating whether the observed effect is linked to the drug’s impact on metabolic health and the aging process in women. The study did not specify the exact percentage increase in lifespan, but other reports indicate a potential 30% increase in reaching age 90.
A 2016 study conducted by the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Buffalo, analyzing data from the Women’s Health Initiative, found that postmenopausal women using metformin for diabetes treatment may have a lower risk of developing certain cancers and dying from them. The research, published in the International Journal of Cancer, involved data from 145,826 women aged 50 to 79, collected between 1993 and 1998. The study noted that women with diabetes had a 45% higher risk of dying from invasive cancer compared to those without the disease, but metformin use appeared to mitigate this risk within the diabetic population.
The French Federation of Diabetics notes that type 2 diabetes, representing over 90% of cases, typically develops after age 40, though diagnoses are increasingly occurring in younger individuals. Approximately 3.5 million French citizens are currently treated for diabetes, with an estimated 700,000 remaining undiagnosed. Around 400 modern cases are diagnosed daily in France.
While the precise mechanisms behind metformin’s potential longevity benefits remain unclear, the findings are prompting further investigation into the relationship between chronic medications, metabolic health, and extended lifespan. The drug is considered a safe and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, according to ameli.fr, the French national health insurance website.
