Research from Massachusetts General Hospital has discovered that metformin, a drug primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, can extend the lifespan of C. elegans, a model organism that shares genetic similarities with humans. This effect is attributed to metformin’s stimulation of ether lipids, essential components of cell membranes. When researchers increased ether lipid production—either through drug treatment or genetic modification—C. elegans exhibited increased longevity. This was further demonstrated by silencing specific genes in the roundworm, which revealed that gene activation related to ether lipid synthesis was necessary for the lifespan-extending effects of metformin and its analog, phenformin.
The study showed that elevating ether lipid synthesis alone, by overexpressing a related enzyme (fard-1), was sufficient to promote longevity in C. elegans, which involves a metabolic stress response linked to the SKN-1 protein. The researchers suggest that enhancing ether lipid production could be a potential therapeutic strategy for promoting healthy aging and reducing age-related diseases. However, further investigation in mammalian models and clinical trials is essential to assess the implications for human health.
