Health

Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity

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The dream of an ultra-long life. Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity

There is a large and emerging body of evidence suggesting that boosting AMPK activity in our bodies can prevent and even reverse, the life-shortening effects of aging. Science shows us that insufficient AMPK activity is most likely related to virtually all pathological aging processes. Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity. Metformin is a popular drug that has been widely used to treat type 2 diabetes for over 60 years. New on the scene are studies that have shown the drug Metformin to activate the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in intact cells and in vivo. Cutting edge scientific research newly points out that restoring AMPK not only increases longevity but works to fight the symptoms of aging in our individual body systems.

Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity

AMPK is an acronym for adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. It can be found in every living cell of nearly every living creature on Earth. If your goal is to lengthen your life span and if you want to avoid the deleterious symptoms of aging, you need to make sure that you have optimal levels of AMPK activity in your body.

The Master-Switch. Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity.

AMPK is commonly referred to as our body’s “metabolic master switch.” AMPK modulates numerous metabolic pathways that allow us to convert energy from the food that we eat.

Here we’ll take a close look at AMPK, how it works, and how its activity level dramatically decreases with old age and unhealthy life choices. Studies have shown the Antidiabetic Drug Metformin Activates the AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade via an Adenine Nucleotide-Independent Mechanism

Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity. The research.

In these studies, researchers who were trying to understand how it worked addressed the mechanism for this effect and found that in intact cells, metformin stimulated phosphorylation of the key regulatory site (Thr-172) on the catalytic (α) subunit of AMPK. There is plenty of evidence that indicates restoring AMPK activity not only increases longevity but works to reverse the symptoms of aging in our body’s individual systems.

Around for over 60 years, Metformin has been thought to act on the liver and improve blood glucose levels. There is an abundance of evidence to support this.

The widely held belief that we “die of old age” is a pervasive and not necessarily true narrative of modern medicine.

We don’t actually die of old age, metabolic systems breakdown, and fail. As we grow old we experience aggregate malfunctions within our cellular engines. These malfunctions should not be thought of as inevitable system failures, but instead as something that we can reverse along with the elements of aging. Kind of like keeping your car running well through regular maintenance and thus preventing the individual parts from prematurely wearing out and working like new.

Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity. AMPK to the rescue.

Whatever organ has become sick or has failed that results in underlying disease, if you follow the pathway and the process far enough back, you are most likely to encounter a problem that has manifest due to insufficient AMPK activity.

There have always been those who have sought after a life of maximum longevity and this is good news for those who believe that they can significantly extend their life spans. That’s because a growing body of evidence suggests that boosting AMPK activity can prevent, and even reverse the life-shortening effects of aging. Disorders as varied as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver and kidney failure, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s), cancers among others. Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity.

Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity

Interestingly enough, scientists are starting to talk about AMPK as a suppressor of aging itself.

There is much evidence that indicates the restoration of AMPK activity not only increases longevity but aids in combatting the symptoms of aging in our vital body functions.

AMPK and production of mitochondria. Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity.

When AMPK is activated it triggers the increased production of mitochondria which is responsible for the releasing of energy in every cell of our bodies. We know that a reduction in mitochondrial quantity and efficiency is associated with accelerated aging thus AMPK-induced “mitochondrial biogenesis” can work effectively and slow the aging process.

When we are young we have high levels of AMPK activity in our bodies. Conversely, as we age the levels of AMPK activity decrease dramatically. Growing old is not only a function of time but a steady dropoff and diminishing of our body’s AMPK activity. Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity.

As we move forward, we should stay vigilantly focused on research that is likely to uncover even more aspects of the vital role of AMPK in maintaining our younger physiological characteristics across the wide range of cell and tissue types. Remaining hopeful that it will ultimately translate into longer human lifespans.

 

AMPK and Longevity – Metformin and AMPK – How Metformin Can Aid in Longevity

Metformin, AMPK, and Increased Longevity.