Scientists have revealed the way metformin works in the brain after 60 years

For more than 60 years, metformin has been the most commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, but its exact mechanism of action in the brain remained a mystery. Now, an international team of researchers has finally uncovered the hidden pathway that explains how this life-saving drug works.

🔬 Breakthrough

The study was led by Dr. Anna Kovalenko (Kyiv National Medical University, Ukraine) together with Professor John Matthews (Harvard Medical School, USA) and Dr. Hiroshi Tanaka (University of Tokyo, Japan). Using advanced neuroimaging and AI-based molecular mapping, the scientists found that metformin activates a specific neural circuit in the hypothalamus that regulates blood sugar levels and energy balance.

⚙️ Technology behind the discovery

The researchers used:

fMRI scans to track brain activity in real time.

CRISPR-based gene editing to identify which neurons were affected.

AI-based neural mapping software to model metabolic pathways.

💊 Comparison of other drugs

The study compared metformin with other widely used diabetes drugs, such as glipizide, pioglitazone and insulin therapy. Unlike these drugs, metformin not only lowers blood sugar levels, but also directly affects brain signals that control appetite and metabolism.

🗣️ Expert opinions

Prof. Matthews: “This discovery is a milestone. It changes our perception of diabetes - not only as a metabolic disease, but also as a condition regulated by the brain.”

Dr. Kovalenko: “Ukraine plays an important role in this study. Our findings could help develop more effective treatments for millions of patients.”

💵 Metformin price in Ukraine

In Ukraine, metformin is available under the brand names Glucophage and Siofor. The average cost ranges from $2 to $8 per pack (30 tablets), making it one of the most affordable diabetes medications in the world.

🌍 Why it matters

This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments that target areas of the brain, not just the pancreas, offering hope for patients with type 2 diabetes and even obesity-related diseases.