Insulin is a two-edged knife on the brain.
Insulin, long known as an important regulator of blood glucose levels, plays important and multifaceted roles in the brain. It has been reported that insulin is an important neuromodulator, contributing to several neurobiological processes in particular energy homeostasis and cognition. Dysregulation of insulin signaling has been linked to aging and metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. The first part of this review is devoted to discussion of the critical role of insulin signaling in normal brain function. Then the involvement of impaired insulin signaling in the pathophysiology of diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be discussed. Finally, the potential therapeutic effect of insulin and insulin sensitizers will be examined.
Cardoso
Susana
S
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal Department of Zoology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
Correia
Sónia
S
Santos
Renato X
RX
Carvalho
Cristina
C
Santos
Maria S
MS
Oliveira
Catarina R
CR
Perry
George
G
Smith
Mark A
MA
Zhu
Xiongwei
X
Moreira
Paula I
PI
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin