The Research Landscape of Metformin and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis

¹ Shenghua Zizhu Academy, No. 155 Tanjiatang Rd, Shanghai, 200241, China
² Library, Naval Medical University, No. 800 Xiangyin Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the research on metformin and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using a bibliometric approach, with the goal of identifying major research advancements and emerging trends in the field. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), covering publications from 1 January 2007 to 31 July 2025. Data were analyzed utilizing VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software tools. Results: A total of 468 articles were included for bibliometric analysis. The field demonstrated a significant annual growth rate in publications of 25.57%. The most productive and highly cited countries were China and the United States. Keyword analysis traced the evolution of the research field from numerous scattered subtopics to more defined, focused themes. Notable among these emerging clusters were those represented by keywords such as “app,” “hypothesis,” “nanoparticles,” “peptide,” and “ALS,” alongside those concerning concepts like “oxidative stress,” “mechanisms,” “dysfunction,” and “animal.” A clear division was observed: terms such as “Alzheimer’s,” “dysfunction,” and “phosphorylation” were predominantly associated with animal studies, while the cluster comprising “metformin,” “dementia,” and “cognitive dysfunction” reflected a stronger focus on clinical research. Conclusion: Future research on metformin and AD should focus more extensively on clinical studies, particularly randomized controlled trials. Investigations related to amyloid precursor protein (APP) are also recommended as a key direction for further study.