Abstract
Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are usually described in terms of the insulin responsiveness of peripheral tissues – liver, muscle, fat – but there is a growing body of evidence for brain insulin responsiveness – and resistance – which is regionally variant. Insulin resistance in the brain pathways controlling appetite, food ingestion and cessation of food ingestion may be implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and its co-morbidities. The role of insulin in cognitive function is also being elucidated, with neuroimaging and biochemical data accumulating to support the epidemiological evidence linking insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes with dementia. Inter-individual differences in brain insulin responsiveness may help explain differences in individual propensity to two of the major health scourges of modern living: obesity and cognitive decline and offer an exciting opportunity for potential new preventive strategies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Metabolic Syndrome |
| Editors | Christopher Byrne, Sarah Wild |
| Place of Publication | Chichester, West Sussex |
| Publisher | WILEY-BLACKWELL |
| Volume | N/A |
| Edition | 2 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781444347319 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781444336580 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2011 |
