Abstract
Although the brain has long been considered an insulin-independent organ, recent research has shown that insulin has significant effects on the brain, where it plays a role in maintaining glucose and energy homeostasis. To avoid peripheral insulin resistance, the brain may act via hypoinsulinemic responses, maintaining glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity within its own confines; however, brain insulin resistance may develop due to environmental factors. Insulin has two important functions in the brain: controlling food intake and regulating cognitive functions, particularly memory. Notably, defects in insulin signaling in the brain may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. Insulin resistance may damage the cognitive system and lead to dementia states. Furthermore, inflammatory processes in the hypothalamus, where insulin receptors are expressed at high density, impair local signaling systems and cause glucose and energy metabolism disorders. Excessive caloric intake and high-fat diets initiate insulin and leptin resistance by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the hypothalamus. This may lead to obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM). Exercise can enhance brain and hypothalamic insulin sensitivity, but it is the option least preferred and/or continuously practiced by the general population. Pharmacological treatments that increase brain and hypothalamic insulin sensitivity may provide new insights into the prevention of dementia disorders, obesity, and type 2 DM in the future.
Keywords: Brain, hypothalamus, insulin resistance, leptin.
Current Vascular Pharmacology
Title:Insulin Resistance in Brain and Possible Therapeutic Approaches
Volume: 12 Issue: 4
Author(s): Sevki Cetinkalp, Ilgin Y. Simsir and Sibel Ertek
Affiliation:
Keywords: Brain, hypothalamus, insulin resistance, leptin.
Abstract: Although the brain has long been considered an insulin-independent organ, recent research has shown that insulin has significant effects on the brain, where it plays a role in maintaining glucose and energy homeostasis. To avoid peripheral insulin resistance, the brain may act via hypoinsulinemic responses, maintaining glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity within its own confines; however, brain insulin resistance may develop due to environmental factors. Insulin has two important functions in the brain: controlling food intake and regulating cognitive functions, particularly memory. Notably, defects in insulin signaling in the brain may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. Insulin resistance may damage the cognitive system and lead to dementia states. Furthermore, inflammatory processes in the hypothalamus, where insulin receptors are expressed at high density, impair local signaling systems and cause glucose and energy metabolism disorders. Excessive caloric intake and high-fat diets initiate insulin and leptin resistance by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the hypothalamus. This may lead to obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM). Exercise can enhance brain and hypothalamic insulin sensitivity, but it is the option least preferred and/or continuously practiced by the general population. Pharmacological treatments that increase brain and hypothalamic insulin sensitivity may provide new insights into the prevention of dementia disorders, obesity, and type 2 DM in the future.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Cetinkalp Sevki, Simsir Y. Ilgin and Ertek Sibel, Insulin Resistance in Brain and Possible Therapeutic Approaches, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2014; 12 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161112999140206130426
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161112999140206130426 |
Print ISSN 1570-1611 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6212 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN CHRONIC AND END STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE
Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of death in Chronic and End Stage Kidney Disease, accounting for more than half of all deaths in dialysis patients. During the past decade, research has been focused on novel therapeutic agents that might delay or even reverse cardiovascular disease and vascular calcification, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Update and Review
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Fluorescence Imaging of Blood Flow Velocity in the Rodent Brain
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Nanomedicine and its Potential for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Nanomedicine Advanced Diabetes Care: Three Levels of Prediction, Prevention & Personalized Treatment
Current Diabetes Reviews Editorial [Hot Topic: Drug Targets in Alzheimers Disease (Executive Editors: G. Munch and G. Stuchbury)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design Oxidative Stress: Apoptosis in Neuronal Injury
Current Alzheimer Research Mitochondrial Deficits Accompany Cognitive Decline Following Single Bilateral Intracerebroventricular Streptozotocin
Current Alzheimer Research The Protective Role of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Cerebral Ischemia
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Alzheimers Disease Drug Development in 2008 and Beyond: Problems and Opportunities
Current Alzheimer Research Possible Usefulness of Growth Hormone/Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Axis in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets The Molecular Genetics of Migraine: Toward the Identification of Responsible Genes
Current Genomics The Clinical Impact of Quantitative Cell-free DNA, KRAS, and BRAF Mutations on Response to Anti-EGFR Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Contribution of Oxazolidinone Frame to The Biological Activity of Pharmaceutical Drugs and Natural Products
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Endothelium and Oxidative Stress: The Pandora's Box of Cerebral (and Non-Only) Small Vessel Disease?
Current Molecular Medicine Editorial [Hot Topic: Progressive and Unconventional Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches to Alzheimers Disease Therapy (Guest Editors: Stuart Maudsley & Wayne Chadwick)]
Current Alzheimer Research Zolpidem Therapy for Movement Disorders
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Redox Sensitivity of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity and Expression in Dopaminergic Dysfunction
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets An Antioxidant Role by Minocycline Via Enhancing the Activation of LKB1/AMPK Signaling in the Process of Cerebral Ischemia Injury
Current Molecular Medicine Recent Advances in Treatment Approaches to Gaucher Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Effect of Nanotechnology Approaches on Anti-retroviral Molecule: Efavirenz
Current Organic Chemistry