Association between Metformin and Cognitive impairment-A Review

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. Neurodegenerative changes are associated with interrupted glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, amyloid peptides and neurofibrillary tangles deposition. Metabolic alteration aggravates aging of brain and pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. Insulin resistance and dysfunction occurring in diabetes mellitus is also a predominant etiological factor in aggravating the pathogenesis of vascular dementia and cognitive impairment. Use of metformin for 6 years or more is significantly related with the minimal risk of cognitive decline. Metformin will improve the depressive performance and modify the metabolism of glucose in depressed patients along with diabetes mellitus. It is proved to prevent cognitive decline by several ways at the same time few research outcomes point out the contradictory effect of metformin on cognitive function, which will be an important target for research on cognitive function, dementia and alzheimer's disease.