Cognitive and behavioral improvement in adults with fragile X syndrome treated with metformin-two cases.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The majority of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) have intellectual disability, behavioral problems, autism, and language deficits. IQ typically declines with age in boys with the full mutation. The results of preclinical studies demonstrated that metformin, a biguanide used to treat type 2 diabetes, rescues multiple phenotypes of FXS in both Drosophila and mouse models. Preliminary studies of patients with FXS demonstrated improvements in behavior.

METHODS:

Here, we present two cases of individuals who have been treated with metformin clinically for one year.

RESULTS:

Both patients demonstrated significant cognitive and behavioral improvements. They also improved eating habits and normalization of their weight percentiles.

CONCLUSION:

Metformin may be a candidate drug for treatment of several types of symptoms in individuals with FXS.

• Authors: Dragana Protic, Elber Y Aydin, Flora Tassone, Maria M Tan, Randi J Hagerman, Andrea Schneider
• Journal: Molecular genetics & genomic medicine (Mol Genet Genomic Med) Vol. 7 Issue 7 Pg. e00745 (07 2019) ISSN: 2324-9269 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31104364 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2019 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Metformin

Topics

• Adult
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Fragile X Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Intelligence Tests
• Male
• Metformin (pharmacology)