Insulin Resistance Brain is a clinical concept describing a state where neuronal and glial cells in the central nervous system exhibit reduced sensitivity to the effects of insulin, impairing glucose uptake and metabolic signaling within the brain. This neuro-metabolic dysfunction compromises ATP production and neurotransmitter synthesis, contributing to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative processes. It is increasingly recognized as a key pathology linking systemic metabolic syndrome to brain aging and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
Origin
This term is a clinical and research construct that applies the well-established peripheral metabolic pathology of ‘Insulin Resistance’ directly to the ‘Brain.’ It highlights the central role of insulin signaling in neurobiology, moving beyond its traditional focus on peripheral glucose regulation. This conceptual link has emerged from neuroendocrinology and metabolic research.
Mechanism
The primary mechanism involves the desensitization or downregulation of insulin receptors on brain cells, often triggered by chronic systemic hyperinsulinemia and inflammation. Impaired insulin signaling subsequently reduces the transport of glucose into neurons, leading to cerebral hypometabolism. This energetic deficit impairs synaptic plasticity, compromises cellular maintenance, and ultimately contributes to the accumulation of pathological protein aggregates.
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