Metabolic HealthSGLT2 Inhibitors May Slow Aging by Clearing Senescent Cells
SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of diabetes medications that lower blood sugar by blocking glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, appear to do far more than control glucose. Beyond their proven benefits for heart and kidney disease, these drugs may actively slow biological aging. Researchers reviewed evidence showing SGLT2 inhibitors trigger metabolic changes resembling caloric restriction and ketosis, reduce chronic inflammation, improve mitochondrial function, and — most strikingly — reduce the accumulation of senescent cells that drive aging. Animal studies show lifespan extension and reversal of age-related decline. The drugs may even possess senolytic properties, meaning they help eliminate the harmful 'zombie cells' increasingly recognized as a root cause of aging. This positions a widely prescribed, well-tolerated drug class as a potential geroprotective agent.
