Pondering the Effects of Insulin Resistance and Bad Stress on the Brain with Larry Reagan

Not only are obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic stress bad for peripheral organ systems but they can also wreak havoc on neuronal networks in the brain.  Here Professor Larry Reagan talks about research showing that insulin acts directly on neurons in the brain and thereby plays important roles in synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Neurons become unresponsive to insulin in obesity and diabetes and this neuronal insulin resistance may contribute to neuronal circuit dysfunction and damage in Alzheimer’s disease. Elevated levels of the adrenal stress hormone cortisol also contributes to the adverse effects of insulin resistance and diabetes on the brain. Regular exercise, healthy dietary and sleep habits, and avoidance of chronic stress can prevent and reverse insulin resistance and excessive production of cortisol.  

LINKS:

Professor Reagan’s lab page:

https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/medicine/about_the_school/faculty-staff/reagan_larry.php

Review articles on brain insulin and leptin resistance:

file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/nrn4019%20(1).pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8642294/pdf/nihms-1756570.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5988909/pdf/nihms927597.pdf

Original research articles:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4613975/pdf/db150596.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8252121/pdf/main.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774048/pdf/nihms285696.pdf