Health for All says
With the increasing aging of the population, Alzheimer's disease, as a common neurodegenerative disease, has brought a huge burden to society and families. Studies have shown that metformin, as a hypoglycemic drug, in addition to having a significant effect on diabetes, the latest research has confirmed the potential of metformin for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which has attracted widespread attention.
In TCM theory, dementia is closely related to kidney deficiency. According to the view of traditional Chinese medicine, the mental activity of the mind is mainly dependent on the essence stored in the kidneys. Dementia, on the other hand, is caused by kidney deficiency, which leads to a deficiency of essence and qi, and the mind is not adequately nourished, resulting in symptoms such as memory loss and slow thinking. Therefore, the best method of supplementing kidney deficiency is particularly important in the prevention and treatment of dementia.
As a commonly used oral hypoglycemic drug, the main mechanism of action of metformin is to reduce blood glucose levels by inhibiting the breakdown of liver glycogen, reducing intestinal absorption of glucose, increasing cellular uptake of glucose and inhibiting glucose production. Early studies have found that patients with dementia generally have higher blood sugar levels, and metformin can effectively lower blood sugar and improve glucose metabolism. As a result, some scientists have begun to study whether metformin can slow the progression of dementia by improving glucose metabolism.
In recent years, many studies have shown that metformin has a certain effect on the prevention and treatment of dementia. First, metformin can improve the energy metabolism of brain cells. Metformin has been found to promote glucose uptake and utilization by brain cells, as well as increase the ability of mitochondria to function and increase cellular energy**. Second, metformin can also inhibit the inflammatory response associated with dementia. Studies have shown that there are chronic neuroinflammatory lesions in the brain tissue of patients with dementia, and the anti-inflammatory effect of metformin can reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, thereby reducing the damage of inflammatory responses to brain cells. In addition, metformin can also increase the survival and development of neurons in the brain, promote the formation of new neural connections, and improve cognitive function.
In addition to metformin, there are also some famous prescriptions in Chinese medicine that can be used to prevent and treat dementia. For example, Imperial Ginseng, Panax Ginseng, Polygonatum and other drugs all have the effect of tonifying the kidney and invigorating qi, which can enhance the function of the kidneys and improve the nutrition of the mind**. At the same time, Chinese medicine such as calamus and bergamot are also widely used to improve memory and thinking skills. Under the guidance of traditional Chinese medicine theory, these drugs have achieved the purpose of preventing and treating dementia by replenishing essence and qi, invigorating blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
Overall, metformin, as a hypoglycemic drug, not only performs well in diabetes, but the latest research has also found that it has certain potential for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The theory of traditional Chinese medicine also provides some famous prescriptions for tonifying the kidney and invigorating qi, which can be used as auxiliary medicines. However, more research and clinical practice are needed for the prevention and treatment of dementia to find more effective and safe ways to protect the health of the elderly.
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References: 1 li j, et al. metformin facilitates hippocampal synaptic plasticity by inhibiting hippocampal lipid synthesis and inflammatory response in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. front endocrinol (lausanne). 2018;9:383.