ArticleCureus2025
Utility of Pharmacological Agents for Diabetes Mellitus in the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: Comparison of Metformin, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists, Insulin, and Sulfonylureas.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Protective Effects of PACAP in Diabetic Complications: Retinopathy, Nephropathy and Neuropathy.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMetformin is a drug primarily used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), but it also offers clinical benefits that extend beyond glycemic control. Existing literature provides an unclear conclusion as to whether metformin's benefits extend to preventing neurodegeneration, such as in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
methodsA retrospective database study was conducted to evaluate the likelihood of developing AD in DM patients taking metformin compared to those taking glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) analogs, sulfonylureas, and short-acting insulin variants. An analysis was also run to assess whether metformin has a protective benefit for AD and mortality when used in those with DM compared to those without DM.
resultsIn analyses totaling greater than 2.5 million patients, those on metformin had lower A1C percentages and a decreased mortality risk when compared to sulfonylureas (HR = 0.519, (CI: (0.493,0.546)), and short-acting insulins (HR = 0.372, (CI: (0.364,0.380)). Metformin use for DM was associated with a statistically significant increased likelihood of AD diagnosis compared to GLP-1 use (HR = 2.228, CI: (1.036,4.794)) but an insignificant difference compared to both sulfonylureas and insulins. Those with DM were at a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's compared to those without DM (HR = 1.826, (CI: 1.579, 2.111)).
conclusionsMetformin, previously thought to have significant benefits in preventing neurodegeneration, may not be the optimal pharmacologic agent of choice, particularly in patients with DM, if neurodegeneration is a primary concern in treatment decision-making based on other risk factors.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.