Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Are Mood Disorders Actually Metabolic Diseases Rooted in Insulin Resistance?
Nov 3, 2025
Discover the surprising link between mood disorders and metabolic health. Learn how insulin resistance affects bipolar disorder and depression. A recent study reveals a connection between insulin release and brain activity. Find out how lithium and metformin may stabilize mood by enhancing insulin signaling. The hosts discuss the pervasive issue of insulin resistance driven by diet and lifestyle. They offer practical steps for improving insulin sensitivity, emphasizing the importance of dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments for better mental health.
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Mood Disorders Linked To Metabolism
- Bipolar disorder and major depression often coexist with insulin resistance, suggesting metabolic links to mental illness.
- This overlap implies mood and metabolic health are tightly connected rather than fully separate issues.
Circadian Pancreas‑Brain Loop
- A 2025 Nature Neuroscience study found a circadian pancreatic–hippocampal feedback loop tied to bipolar-like behavior.
- Disrupted insulin release aligned with hippocampal activity shifts that mapped to depression and mania phases.
Medications Work Through Insulin Pathways
- Lithium may stabilize mood partly by restoring neuronal insulin signaling via PI3K-AKT and GSK3 pathways.
- Metformin trials improved insulin sensitivity and psychiatric symptoms in treatment‑resistant bipolar patients.