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Insulin action in the brain: cell types, circuits, and diseases
Wenqiang Chen1, Weikang Cai2, Benjamin Hoover3
1Section of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Trends in Neurosciences
|April 1, 2022
Summary
Insulin is vital for brain function and glucose control. Impaired insulin signaling in the brain contributes to disorders like diabetes and neuropsychiatric conditions, offering new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Insulin is a critical hormone regulating glucose homeostasis.
- Insulin resistance is implicated in various systemic and neurological disorders.
- The brain is a significant target for insulin action, influencing neuronal function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the roles of insulin action within the brain.
- To elucidate how different brain cell types are involved in insulin signaling.
- To explore the contribution of disordered brain insulin signaling to neuropsychiatric diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on brain insulin signaling.
- Analysis of the impact of insulin resistance on brain circuits.
- Examination of the relationship between brain insulin signaling and mood/cognition.
Main Results:
- Insulin plays diverse roles in the brain, affecting various cell types.
- Disrupted insulin signaling in the brain is linked to mood and cognitive impairments.
- Insulin resistance in the brain contributes to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Conclusions:
- Understanding brain insulin signaling across cell types is crucial for disease insight.
- Altered insulin pathways in the brain represent potential therapeutic targets for neurological and psychiatric conditions.
- Further research into brain insulin signaling may yield novel treatments for challenging brain disorders.
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