Unlocking Cognitive Health: How Metformin Slows Brain Aging Through Precision Medicine
Description: Dementia remains a major public health challenge, with no cure available. Metformin, a widely prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes (T2D), has attracted interest for its potential neuroprotective effects, though its impact on cognitive health remains unclear. This five-year project investigates Metformin’s role in cognitive aging—spanning cognitive decline, cognitive impairment and dementia—while exploring its mechanisms in brain aging.We aim to: Examine associations between Metformin use, cognitive aging, and brain measures in people with T2D compared to other glucose-lowering therapies. Unravel target-specific effects on brain aging using drug-target Mendelian Randomisation. Investigate neuroplastic changes through an intervention study. Develop personalized clinical criteria to estimate Metformin’s effects on brain aging.To achieve our objectives, we will utilize data from four population-based cohorts and a quality register: the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care-Kungsholmen (n=3,363), the Screening Across the Lifespan Twin Study (n=44,919), the UK Biobank (n=502,412), the Memory and Aging Project (n=2,192), and the Swedish Dementia Register (n=129,387). We will also conduct an intervention study (n=120).With comprehensive data on drug use, cognitive tests, imaging, biomarkers, health status, and lifestyle, this project could provide critical insights into Metformin´s effects on brain aging, paving the way for novel dementia treatments and prevention strategies.
Funder: Vetenskapsrådet
Amount: SEK 3,000,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Project grant
Start date: 2025-12-01
End date: 2028-11-30
Investigator: Weili Xu
Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Funded outputs count: 3
Funder award ID: 2025-02364
OpenAlex ID: G4226620102