Metformin's Effects on Cognitive Function from a Biovariance Perspective: A Narrative Review

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40004246

Authors

Dimitrie Chele

Carmen-Adella Sirbu

Marian Mitrica

Mihai Toma

Octavian Vasiliu

Anca-Maria Sirbu

Francois Jerome Authier

Dan Mischianu

Alice Elena Munteanu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study examines the effects of metformin on brain functions focusing on the variability of the results reported in the literature. While some studies suggest that metformin may have neuroprotective effects in diabetic patients, others report an insignificant impact of metformin on cognitive function, or even a negative effect. We propose that this inconsistency may be due to intrinsic cellular-level variability among individuals, which we term "biovariance". Biovariance persists even in demographically homogeneous samples due to complex and stochastic biological processes. Additionally, the complex metabolic actions of metformin, including its influence on neuroenergetics and neuronal survival, may produce different effects depending on individual metabolic characteristics.

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