Repurposing Antidiabetic Medications for Parkinson’s Disease: Focus on Biomarker Strategies on Disease Modification

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It shares many pathophysiologic similarities with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Numerous studies have explored the repurposing of antidiabetic medications for their potential neuroprotective effects in PD. There has not been a consolidated review on the biochemical biomarkers that have been evaluated across antidiabetic medications. This review aims to assess the current landscape of biomarker research in evaluating the efficacy of these antidiabetic agents as disease-modifying therapies in PD. We examine the molecular mechanisms targeted by these drugs, the biomarkers used to assess their effects, and the outcomes of clinical trials. The review hopes to identify gaps in current research and enhance the evaluation of antidiabetic medications in PD.