Diabetes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering muscle function. However, a widely used diabetes drug that controls blood sugar can also prevent muscle atrophy and muscular fibrosis—which can help the elderly bounce back faster from injury or illness. Researchers from th
Researchers found that Metformin, a common diabetes drug, can prevent muscle atrophy and fibrosis, potentially aiding in faster recovery from injury in the elderly. The drug targets senescent cells, which affect muscle function, and its benefits were observed in a study with older adults during periods of muscle disuse and recovery.
“In the case of aging, we know that there’s immune dysfunction,” says Drummond. “As you get older, it becomes harder for your body to clear senescent cells and they accumulate. That’s one reason recovery is much slower for the elderly after periods of disuse.” “We saw two things in our study,” Drummond says. “When participants took Metformin during a bed rest, they had less muscle atrophy. During the recovery period, their muscles also had less fibrosis or excessive collagen. That build-up can make it harder for the muscle to properly function.”
“Our real goal is to have patients maintain their muscle mass and function as they age because atrophy and weakness are some of the strongest predictors of disease development and death,” he says.
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