Abstract
Background: Cognitive deficits differentially affect individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and mood disorders. Accumulating evidence implicates disturbances in metabolism as salient to cognitive function. Thus, the mitigation of metabolic disturbances may preserve or ameliorate cognitive function. This review aims to evaluate available evidence investigating the effects of metformin on cognitive function as well as summarize putative mechanistic properties related to these clinical effects.
Methods: A PubMed search was conducted using the search words including, but not limited to: metformin, Major Depressive Disorder, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cognitive dysfunction. All English language articles published from 1990 to July 2014 were reviewed.
Results: Extant preclinical and clinical data have been mixed, wherein both cognitive disruption and pro-cognitive effects have been reported with the administration of metformin. Sound mechanistic evidence supports metformin as a treatment; however, the heterogeneity of study designs has contributed to an inability to arrive at an unequivocal conclusion regarding metformin effects upon cognition.
Conclusion: Available evidence does not provide a robust signal for improvement in cognition in either mood disorder or T2DM samples. Notwithstanding, it is premature to label metformin as a “no-go” agent for further testing and development for cognitive dysfunction. A well designed, proof-of-concept trial of metformin investigating its possible cognitive effects in mood disorders is therefore warranted.
Keywords: Cognitive deficits, depression, mechanisms, metformin, neurodegeneration, neuroplasticity.
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title:Metformin: Repurposing Opportunities for Cognitive and Mood Dysfunction
Volume: 13 Issue: 10
Author(s): Melissa A. Ying, Nadia Maruschak, Rodrigo Mansur, Andre F. Carvalho, Danielle S. Cha and Roger S. McIntyre
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cognitive deficits, depression, mechanisms, metformin, neurodegeneration, neuroplasticity.
Abstract: Background: Cognitive deficits differentially affect individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and mood disorders. Accumulating evidence implicates disturbances in metabolism as salient to cognitive function. Thus, the mitigation of metabolic disturbances may preserve or ameliorate cognitive function. This review aims to evaluate available evidence investigating the effects of metformin on cognitive function as well as summarize putative mechanistic properties related to these clinical effects.
Methods: A PubMed search was conducted using the search words including, but not limited to: metformin, Major Depressive Disorder, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cognitive dysfunction. All English language articles published from 1990 to July 2014 were reviewed.
Results: Extant preclinical and clinical data have been mixed, wherein both cognitive disruption and pro-cognitive effects have been reported with the administration of metformin. Sound mechanistic evidence supports metformin as a treatment; however, the heterogeneity of study designs has contributed to an inability to arrive at an unequivocal conclusion regarding metformin effects upon cognition.
Conclusion: Available evidence does not provide a robust signal for improvement in cognition in either mood disorder or T2DM samples. Notwithstanding, it is premature to label metformin as a “no-go” agent for further testing and development for cognitive dysfunction. A well designed, proof-of-concept trial of metformin investigating its possible cognitive effects in mood disorders is therefore warranted.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ying A. Melissa, Maruschak Nadia, Mansur Rodrigo, Carvalho F. Andre, Cha S. Danielle and McIntyre S. Roger, Metformin: Repurposing Opportunities for Cognitive and Mood Dysfunction, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2014; 13 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666141130205514
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666141130205514 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infectious diseases
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) can be divided into bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, parasitic infections, etc. Early etiological treatment is often the most crucial means to reduce the mortality rate of patients with central nervous system infections, reduce complications and sequelae, and improve prognosis. The initial clinical ...read more
Techniques of Drug Repurposing: Delivering a new life to Herbs & Drugs
Of late, with the adaptation of innovative approaches and integration of advancements made towards medical sciences as well as the availability of a wide range of tools; several therapeutic challenges are being translated into viable clinical solutions, with a high degree of efficacy, safety, and selectivity. With a better understanding ...read more
Trends and perspectives in the rational management of CNS disorders
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases enforce a significant global health burden, driving ongoing efforts to improve our understanding and effectiveness of therapy. This issue investigates current advances in the discipline, focusing on the understanding as well as therapeutic handling of various CNS diseases. The issue covers a variety of diseases, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Emerging Role of JNK in Insulin Resistance
Current Diabetes Reviews The Heat Shock Protein 90 Chaperone Complex: An Evolving Therapeutic Target
Current Cancer Drug Targets Biosafety of Herpesvirus Vectors
Current Gene Therapy Targets of 3-Bromopyruvate, A New, Energy Depleting, Anticancer Agent
Medicinal Chemistry Quassinoids: From Traditional Drugs to New Cancer Therapeutics
Current Medicinal Chemistry Rhenium-188 and Copper-67 Radiopharmaceuticals for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry O-GlcNAc Modification and the Tauopathies: Insights from Chemical Biology
Current Alzheimer Research Lactate Transporters and pH Regulation: Potential Therapeutic Targets in Glioblastomas
Current Cancer Drug Targets Telomere Shortening Is a Sole Mechanism of Aging in Mammals
Current Aging Science Novel Drug Therapies for Fertility Preservation in Men Undergoing Chemotherapy: Clinical Relevance of Protector Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cell to Cell Spreading of Misfolded Proteins as a Therapeutic Target in Motor Neuron Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Highly Organized Nanostructures for Brain Drug Delivery - New Hope or Just a Fad?
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Prion Protein Peptides as Vaccines
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Dual Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase and Cholinesterase for the Treatment of Alzheimer Disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The “Aged Garlic Extract” (AGE) and One of its Active Ingredients S-Allyl-LCysteine (SAC) as Potential Preventive and Therapeutic Agents for Alzheimer's Disease (AD)
Current Medicinal Chemistry Peripheral Neuropathy Induced by Paclitaxel: Recent Insights and Future Perspectives
Current Neuropharmacology Design of New Drug Molecules to be Used in Reversing Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Cells
Current Cancer Drug Targets Genome and Transcriptome Analysis of Neuroblastoma Advanced Diagnosis from Innovative Therapies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Incorporation of Anti-angiogenic Therapies in the Treatment of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Current Perspectives and Future Directions
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) The Potential of Statins for Individualized Colorectal Cancer Chemoprevention
Current Drug Targets