An old drug for new ideas: metformin promotes adult neurogenesis and spatial memory formation

Cell Stem Cell. 2012 Jul 6;11(1):5-6. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.06.003.

Abstract

Identifying well-tolerated, oral medications that enhance adult neurogenesis is of great clinical interest. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Wang et al. (2012) demonstrate that the diabetes medication metformin enhances spatial learning in mice by activating the atypical PKC/CBP pathway in adult neural stem cells.

MeSH terms

  • Adenylate Kinase / metabolism
  • Administration, Oral
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Animals
  • CREB-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Metformin / administration & dosage
  • Metformin / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Neurogenesis / drug effects*
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism

Substances

  • Metformin
  • CREB-Binding Protein
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Adenylate Kinase