title: Diabetes drugs and neurological disorders: new views and therapeutic possibilities.
abstract: Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease characterised by insulin resistance with hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. It is associated with increased risk of stroke and vascular dementia, and might contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have shown that several antidiabetic drugs can promote neuronal survival and lead to a significant clinical improvement of memory and cognition in different clinical settings. We discuss these emerging data, with a focus on metformin, thiazolidinediones, and the more recently developed compounds targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor. Data show that these antidiabetic drugs affect brain metabolism, neuroinflammation, and regeneration. Evidence thus far strongly indicates that these antidiabetic drugs could be developed as disease-modifying therapies for human brain diseases in patients with and without diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patrone
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum, Finland.
authors.forename: Ove
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum, Finland; Minerva Medical Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: dan.lindholm@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lindholm
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin