Type 2 diabetes is a long-term illness that affects how the body handles sugar in the blood.
Normally, a hormone called insulin helps keep blood sugar levels under control. But in people with type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly.
This causes sugar to build up in the blood, which can lead to serious health problems over time—including problems with the brain.
One of the most commonly used medicines for type 2 diabetes is metformin. Doctors have been prescribing this drug for around 60 years to help lower blood sugar. Metformin works by stopping the liver from releasing too much sugar and helping the body’s cells respond better to insulin. It has helped millions of people all over the world.
Now, researchers at UNSW Sydney have found something surprising. Their study suggests that metformin might also help protect the brain. In their research, they saw that people with type 2 diabetes who were taking metformin had slower memory loss and were less likely to get dementia compared to those who were not taking the drug.
This is a very exciting discovery. Dementia is a disease that causes memory loss and affects
thinking and decision-making. It’s becoming more common as people live longer.
Right now, nearly 47 million people around the world have dementia, and that number is expected to grow. Finding ways to slow down or prevent dementia is a major goal for scientists and doctors.
The UNSW Sydney study included 123 people with type 2 diabetes. Out of these, 67 were using metformin to manage their blood sugar. The researchers found that the people who used metformin had much better thinking and memory skills over time. They also had a lower risk of developing dementia.
This suggests that metformin could do more than just control diabetes—it might also help keep the brain healthy. Although the study focused on people with type 2 diabetes, it raises the question of whether metformin could also help people who don’t have diabetes but are at risk of dementia.
Metformin has also been looked at for other possible health benefits. Some studies suggest it may help with heart disease, certain types of cancer, and weight problems. It’s even used to treat a hormone-related condition in women called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The researchers, led by Professor Katherine Samaras, are hopeful about these new findings. But they also say we need to be careful. Metformin is not a cure for dementia. It might be one helpful part of a bigger plan to support brain health, especially for people with diabetes.
The study was published in the journal Diabetes Care. More research will be needed to confirm these results and see if metformin can help people without diabetes, too. Still, the idea that a common diabetes drug could also protect the brain is a hopeful step toward better health for millions of people.
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