title: Leptin and the brain: influences on brain development, cognitive functioning and psychiatric disorders.
abstract: Receptors of leptin, the prototypical adipokine, are expressed throughout the cortex and several other areas of the brain. Although typically studied for its role in energy intake and expenditure, leptin plays a critical role in many other neurocognitive processes and interacts with various other hormones and neurotransmitters to perform these functions. Here, we review the literature on how leptin influences brain development, neural degradation, Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, and more complicated cognitive functioning and feeding behaviors. We also discuss modulators of leptin and the leptin receptor as they relate to normal cognitive functioning and may mediate some of the actions of leptin in the brain. Although we are beginning to better understand the critical role leptin plays in normal cognitive functioning, there is much to be discovered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Boston VA Healthcare System/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215. Electronic address: Olivia.Farr@va.gov.
authors.forename: Olivia M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Farr
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Boston VA Healthcare System/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tsoukas
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Boston VA Healthcare System/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215.
authors.forename: Christos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mantzoros
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin
keywords: CNS; Depression; Leptin; Schizophrenia; fMRI