Scientists say they have uncovered a major new clue to how metformin works, more than 60 years after the drug became a standard treatment for type 2 diabetes. Research highlighted by ScienceDaily reports that metformin does not act only in the liver and gut, as widely believed, but also works directly in the brain.
The study, led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, points to a previously underappreciated brain-based control center involved in blood sugar regulation. According to the report, metformin appears to lower glucose by switching off a protein in this pathway, revealing a mechanism that had remained hidden despite the drug’s long history of use.
That finding could change how scientists think about one of the world’s most commonly prescribed diabetes medicines. Instead of seeing metformin mainly as a drug that affects metabolism outside the brain, researchers now suggest its glucose-lowering effects may partly depend on central nervous system signals as well.
The discovery may also help explain why metformin has remained so effective for many patients while still leaving some questions unanswered. By showing that the brain plays a direct role in the drug’s action, the work opens the door to new studies on blood sugar control and potentially more targeted treatments for type 2 diabetes.
