New CITP publication! Genetic background effects on Metformin anti-aging efficacy

Metformin is an FDA approved biguanide prescribed for treatment of type II diabetes. Metformin has generated a lot of interest as a potential anti-aging intervention based on studies in animal models and correlated changes in potential aging indicators in people prescribed metformin. This excitement prompted the Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) trial which seeks to measure clinical efficacy of metformin on aging, a significant step in geroscience. The Caenorhabditis Intervention Testing Program (CITP) tests compounds efficacy across Caenorhabditis genetic backgrounds to study fundamental aging biology, and to inform intervention translation to mammals. In this manuscript (link) the CITP assayed longevity and healthspan effects of metformin across a nematode genetic diversity panel. This work both demonstrates the efficacy of metformin, supporting the excitement as a potential anti-aging therapeutic, while illustrating the importance of accounting for genetic background when tailoring interventions to the individual.