Diabetes Treatment Metformin May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

A study in Diabetes Care suggests the type 2 diabetes drug metformin could also help reduce cognitive decline among older adults, reports Mental Daily . "The objective . . . was to determine the association of metformin use with incident dementia and cognitive decline over six years in diabetes compared with those not receiving metformin and those without diabetes," said the Australian researchers. Generally, the medication lowered risk of dementia by slowing cognitive decline. "Older people with diabetes receiving metformin have slower cognitive decline and lower dementia risk," the researchers concluded. "Large randomized studies in people with and without diabetes will determine whether these associations can be attributed to metformin."