Metformin for neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Neurocognitive dysfunction is a core feature of schizophrenia.
• The efficacy of metformin for improving cognitive deficits in schizophrenia is not well-established.
• This systematic review examines randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating metformin's effects on cognition in schizophrenia patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review RCTs evaluating metformin's impact on neurocognitive function in schizophrenia.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of metformin as an adjunct treatment for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across major English and Chinese biomedical databases.
• Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing metformin's effects on neurocognitive outcomes in schizophrenia.
• Neurocognitive function was evaluated using standardized assessment tools.

Main Results:

• Four RCTs with 271 patients were included in the review.
• Three RCTs indicated significant improvements in neurocognitive function with metformin compared to controls.
• No significant differences in total psychopathology were observed; adverse events were generally mild and comparable between groups.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary evidence suggests metformin may offer benefits for neurocognitive function in schizophrenia.
• Larger-scale, high-quality, double-blind RCTs are necessary to validate these promising findings.
• Metformin warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.