After 60 Years, Diabetes Drug Found to Unexpectedly Impact the Brain
8 months ago
- #metformin
- #diabetes
- #neuroscience
- Metformin, used for over 60 years to manage type 2 diabetes, may work directly in the brain, according to a new study.
- Researchers identified a brain pathway involving the protein Rap1 in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) that metformin affects.
- Metformin turns off Rap1 in the VMH, which helps manage blood sugar levels.
- Mice without Rap1 showed no response to metformin, indicating its unique brain mechanism.
- SF1 neurons in the VMH are activated by metformin, suggesting their direct role in its action.
- Metformin is known to reduce liver glucose production and improve insulin efficiency.
- The study suggests metformin's effects in the brain could lead to more targeted treatments.
- Understanding metformin's brain mechanism may expand its use for other purposes, like slowing brain aging.
- The brain reacts to lower metformin concentrations compared to the liver and intestines.
- The research was published in Science Advances.