Metformin, a drug commonly used drug to treat type 2 diabetes, works by reducing the excessive release of blood sugar. The results of a new study published by Nature Medicine suggest that metformin may also be used to treat the social, behavioral, and morphological symptoms of Fragile X syndrome. Medical uses. Metformin is primarily used for type 2 diabetes, but is also used in polycystic ovary syndrome. Outcomes appear to be improved even in those with some degree of kidney disease, heart failure, or liver problems. Syndrome X is a group of problems associated with type 2 diabetes. It includes obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipi-demia (abnormal cholesterol metabolism), macro-angiopathy, (large blood vessel disease/hardening of the arteries), and insulin resistance. Metformin is the most popular pharmacotherapy to manage Type 2 diabetes. This medication is also widely used as a treatment for weight loss as well as polycystic ovary syndrome in women. Metformin helps with lowering blood sugar and weight loss without causing serious side effects. Remember good old Metformin? Metformin was researched in past for weight loss and now is used to help with improving insulin resistance which is prevalent in obesity and overweight. Zheng W, Li X-B, Tang Y-L, et al. Metformin for weight gain and metabolic abnormalities associated with antipsychotic treatment: meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;35(5):499-509. New study shows that treatment with the common type 2 diabetes drug metformin improves social, behavioral, and neuron deficits in mouse model of fragile X. Is Metformin helpful for Syndrome X? can Metformin cause Syndrome X? Metformin is mentioned in 195 posts about Syndrome X. Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is caused by loss of FMR1 expression on the X chromosome that leads to increased mRNA translation, which results in hyperactivation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rafampicin complex 1) signaling and consequently in synaptic dysfunction and neurological development. Diabetes and Fragile X syndrome may someday have something in common. Diabetes is manageable and so could be Fragile X syndrome. Treatable. And, yes, even curable — potentially.