Long-term metformin use lowers risk of neurodegenerative diseases in diabetics: Study

China: Metformin use, particularly long-term use is tied to a lower risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases, suggests meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies. More randomized controlled trials however are needed for confirming the data, the researchers add. The study was published in the journal Diabetic Medicine on 23 February 2022. 

Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive disorders of the central nervous system characterized by loss of neuron function and structure. Metformin is a first-line anti-diabetic drug that has recently attracted considerable attention owing to its neuroprotective effects. However, the association between metformin use and the onset of neurodegenerative disease remains controversial.

Against the above backdrop, Yunnan Zhang and his team from China aimed to determine the relationship between metformin use and ND risk based on data from population-based cohort studies in the systematic review and meta-analysis. 

For this purpose, the researchers systematically searched articles in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Using a random-effects model they obtained pooled relative risks (RRs). Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and meta-regression were performed for identifying the sources of heterogeneity and strengthening the results.