Diabetes Obes Metab

Metformin use associated with lower dementia risk in patients with obesity

August 14, 2025

Metformin may confer neuroprotective benefits in patients with obesity, independent of glycemic control. The observed reduction in dementia and mortality risk supports consideration of metformin’s broader therapeutic role in populations at high risk for cognitive decline.

Study details: This large, multi-center retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic health records from the TriNetX global federated health network. Obese adults were stratified by BMI (25–29.9, 30–34.9, 35–39.9, ≥40) and propensity score-matched into metformin users vs. non-users. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis estimated dementia incidence and all-cause mortality over a 10-year follow-up period.

Results: Across all BMI categories, metformin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia (hazard ratios [HRs] ranged from 0.875 to 0.917) and all-cause mortality (HRs, 0.719 to 0.743) compared with matched controls. The protective effect was consistent across BMI strata, with some variation by population.

Source:

Lin YL, et al. (2025, August 6). Diabetes Obes Metab. Protective effect of metformin against dementia in patients with obesity: Results from a global federated health network analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40765265/