Could a common diabetes drug ward off Alzheimer's?
NCT ID NCT04098666
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether metformin, a drug used for diabetes, can prevent Alzheimer's dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Over 18 months, 326 overweight adults aged 55-90 with MCI will receive either metformin or a placebo. Researchers will track memory, brain scans, and blood markers to see if metformin slows cognitive decline.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
metformin
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a way to delay or prevent Alzheimer's dementia in people with early memory problems.
What could go wrong
This is a mid-stage trial with a modest number of participants. Metformin is already used for diabetes, but its effect on Alzheimer's is unproven, and the study may not show clear benefit.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
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Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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Cornell University
New York, New York, 10065, United States
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Eastern Virginia Medical School
Norfolk, Virginia, 23507, United States
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Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States
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Georgetown University
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007, United States
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Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States
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New York University Langone Medical Center
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, United States
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Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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SUNY Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, New York, 13210, United States
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Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, 94304, United States
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The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
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University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, 14203, United States
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University of California - Irvine
Irvine, California, 92697, United States
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University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Wichita, Kansas, 67214, United States
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University of Miami
Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
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University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87106, United States
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University of Texas - Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
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University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States
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Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States