Metformin-A Drug I have Known For Thirty Years- Pearl Harbor Day

Metformin: A Drug I Lived With for 30 Years And What We’re Learning About Its Longevity and Brain Effects

For more than three decades, metformin was part of my daily routine. Like millions of people living with Type 2 diabetes, I took that familiar white tablet every morning without much thought. It became a quiet companion in my health journey. reliable, inexpensive, and scientifically trusted.

Then last year, everything changed. When my kidney disease reached an advanced stage, my nephrologist insisted I discontinue metformin. It was the right call for my condition, but it marked the end of a very long chapter.

What surprised me recently  and inspired this blog is the growing body of research suggesting metformin might do far more than control blood sugar. After six decades of use, scientists are still uncovering unexpected effects, including potential benefits for longevity and even brain function.

The Metformin “Longevity Drug” Reputation

Over the last ten years, metformin has been widely discussed as a possible life-extension drug. Observational studies have hinted that people taking metformin sometimes experience:

• Lower all-cause mortality than even some non-diabetics

• Reduced inflammation

• Improved metabolic efficiency

• Possible protection against age-related diseases

These findings earned metformin a reputation as a “prolonging life” medication although researchers emphasize that these are associations, not proof of cause-and-effect. The large TAME Trial (Targeting Aging with Metformin) was launched to study whether metformin could actually slow biological aging.

Although the trial has had funding challenges, the scientific curiosity remains strong. Even after 60 years, metformin still refuses to be a simple drug.

Surprising Research on Metformin and the Brain

The image above reflects another emerging discovery: metformin may influence brain function in ways we are only beginning to understand.

Recent laboratory and small clinical studies suggest metformin might:

• Support neuroplasticity

• Improve glucose use in brain cells

• Promote the growth of certain neural stem cells

• Reduce inflammation linked to cognitive decline

Some scientists are exploring whether metformin could help delay or modify conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or age-related memory loss. These ideas are still in early stages, but they point to a broader truth: the brain and metabolism are closely intertwined.

I find it remarkable that a drug originally extracted from French lilac plants and introduced in the 1950s is now being studied for its potential impact on the aging brain.

My Personal Perspective After 30 Years of Use

Looking back, I see metformin as one of the steady supports in my long journey with Type 2 diabetes. It helped me maintain good control during decades of working at the FDA, raising my family, and later enjoying my retirement years with Macrine (RIP), my wife for over 63 years. 

Stopping it because of kidney disease was necessary and an important reminder that no medication is risk-free. Metformin is not recommended for people with advanced chronic kidney disease because the body can no longer clear the drug efficiently.

Yet I cannot help but feel a sense of curiosity about this medication that served me well for so long. Could it actually have influenced my health beyond diabetes? Could it even have had subtle effects on memory, energy, or cognition? We may never know, but the science is certainly evolving in surprising ways.

A Final Thought

As I reflect on turning 91 soon, I realize how quickly medical knowledge continues to change. A drug I began taking in the 1990s is now being studied as a possible anti-aging tool  and even as something that may help keep the mind sharp.

Whether these findings prove true or simply fade into scientific history, metformin remains one of the most interesting and important drugs of the modern era.

And for me, it will always be part of my story, a companion through decades of living, working, blogging, and aging, hopefully gracefully. 

Meanwhile, Today is Pearl Harbor Day | December 7, 1941

Tomorrow, we pause to Honor the Americans whose lives were forever changed on this day 84 years ago.

A quiet Sunday morning turned into one of the darkest moments in our nation’s history and one of the greatest displays of courage the world has ever seen.

2,403 Americans were killed. Hundreds more were wounded. And countless families received news that shattered their world.

But amid the smoke, chaos, and fear, ordinary men and women showed extraordinary bravery. Sailors fought through fire. Medics risked their lives to pull others to safety. Service members stood their ground, not knowing if help would arrive in time.

This is the legacy we remember today. Not just the attack, but the sacrifice, the valor, and the resilience of those who stood firm when the world changed around them.

To the Heroes we lost, and to the families who still carry their memory: We see you. We Honor you. We will never forget. Let us live each day with the gratitude their sacrifice deserves. I was almost 8 years old on that Day which will live in Infamy...I still remember that event and will never be erased in my Memory,

Lastly, here's the  AI Overview

Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941, marks the surprise attack by Japan on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing over 2,400 Americans, wounding many more, and sinking battleships, drawing the U.S. into World War II, with National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day observed annually to honor the sacrifice and courage of those involved. 

Key Facts About the Attack:

• Date & Time: Sunday morning, December 7, 1941.
• Perpetrator: Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.
• Location: Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Casualties: 2,403 Americans killed, 1,178 wounded, with losses in ships and aircraft.
• Significance: Prompted the U.S. to declare war on Japan the next day, officially entering World War II. 

Remembrance:

• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: An official U.S. observance to honor those who died.
• Commemoration: Events include ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial and tributes to survivors and the fallen. 

The "Date Which Will Live in Infamy":

• President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously called December 7th "a date which will live in infamy" in his address to Congress, solidifying the nation's commitment to the war effort. 

The event is remembered not just for the devastation but also for the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice shown by ordinary service members in the face of chaos.