08/31/2026
20-year study shows metformin, a common and affordable type 2 diabetes drug, may cut the risk of dementia in half.
A landmark study tracking participants for over 20 years suggests that the widely prescribed type 2 diabetes drug, metformin, may cut the risk of developing dementia in half. Researchers analyzed data from 1,483 individuals who participated in the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) starting in the 1990s.
The long-term follow-up revealed that only 1.9% of those randomized to receive metformin eventually developed dementia, compared to 4.2% in the intensive lifestyle intervention group and 3.5% in the placebo group. Dr. José Luchsinger of Columbia University emphasized that this long-term tracking represents the strongest evidence to date that metformin could preserve brain health.
The biological pathway behind this protective effect remains a mystery, though scientists suspect metformin may protect brain cells by reducing vascular inflammation, improving glucose metabolism, or modifying immune responses. Repurposing cheap, widely available medications like metformin offers a highly efficient avenue for addressing the global surge in neurodegenerative diseases.
While researchers caution that these results are not yet a definitive cure, the findings have fueled high anticipation for ongoing clinical trials specifically designed to evaluate metformin’s direct role in halting Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline.
source: Marshall, M. (2026). Diabetes drug metformin may halve the risk of dementia. New Scientist.