{"id":10038,"date":"2020-04-06T13:00:40","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T17:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=10038"},"modified":"2025-08-25T12:56:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T16:56:58","slug":"metformin-and-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-and-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Does metformin cause dementia?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Metformin<\/span><\/a> is a popular prescription medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. The effect of metformin, a biguanide drug, is to reduce the amount of sugar in a person’s blood. Ever since metformin hit the market, there have been many myths about its connection to dementia, a disease associated with confusion, memory loss, and mood changes. In this article, we\u2019re going to take a closer look at the link between metformin and dementia. Is there a connection? If so, what is it?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is dementia?<\/h2>\n

First, let\u2019s take a closer look at what dementia is. Dementia is a term used to describe diseases and illnesses that result in problems like memory loss and issues with speaking and thinking. One type of dementia is Alzheimer\u2019s, which typically affects older adults. <\/span>Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/span><\/a> is a neurodegenerative disease that is the most common cause of dementia, followed closely by vascular dementia. Alzheimer\u2019s disease works by deteriorating the nerve cells in the brain. Like Alzheimer\u2019s, Parkinson\u2019s disease is another well-known condition that can cause incident dementia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Want the best price on metformin?<\/h3>\n

Sign up for metformin price alerts and find out when the price changes!<\/p>\n

Get price alerts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Is metformin linked to dementia?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The simple answer is that metformin does not cause dementia and can actually help lower a person’s dementia risk, says <\/span>Verna R. Porter, MD<\/span><\/a>, a neurologist and director of Dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Programs at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. \u201cIn fact, a <\/span>recent study<\/span><\/a> of 17,000 veterans with diabetes found that taking metformin was associated with a lower risk of dementia than other diabetes drugs known as sulfonylureas (like glyburide and glipizide),\u201d Dr. Porter says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another study<\/span><\/a> also highlighted that the cognitive function of specific racial groups could benefit from metformin. It showed that metformin use was associated with reduced rates of dementia and improved cognitive function among African American patients with Type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-0.89) but not white patients (HR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.9-1.03).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, other <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> indicate a different link between diabetic patients’ long-term use of metformin and other insulin sensitizers and the incidence of dementia. Some cohort <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> show an increased risk of developing dementia when using metformin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, the current research into the link between metformin use, especially as monotherapy and as a dementia diagnosis, is mixed and not yet definitive. More clinical trials and observational studies are needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Diabetes medications and treatment<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Can metformin cause memory problems?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The research is unclear at this time whether metformin can cause memory problems, so there isn’t a definitive answer. However, many doctors still recommend metformin as a first-line treatment for Type 2 diabetes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What may be causing memory problems for those taking metformin is not the medication itself, but the underlying illness: diabetes. The mental health effects of diabetes can range from mild cognitive impairment to severe. In fact, a <\/span>2011 clinical study<\/span><\/a> illustrated a risk factor between Type 2 diabetes mellitus and dementia, stating that Type 2 diabetes <\/span>increases the risk of dementia more than two-fold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> from 2017 made a connection between insulin resistance\u2014a trait of diabetes\u2014and long-term cognitive decline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The bottom line is that more research is required to get conclusive answers on how metformin contributes to memory problems; however, the underlying condition that metformin treats\u2014Type 2 diabetes\u2014certainly can lead to decreased cognitive function and memory issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the side effects of long-term metformin use?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Often when people are prescribed metformin for diabetes care, they\u2019re in it for the long haul, so there are long-term side effects to consider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are the most common side effects of metformin:<\/span><\/p>\n