Cited by 1,597Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

Brain insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease: concepts and conundrums

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Arnold, Steven E., Arvanitakis, Zoe, Macauley-Rambach, Shannon L., Koenig, Aaron M., Wang, Hoau-Yan, Ahima, Rexford S., Craft, Suzanne, Gandy, Sam +4 more·2018·Nature Reviews Neurology

Abstract

Considerable overlap has been identified in the risk factors, comorbidities and putative pathophysiological mechanisms of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRDs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), two of the most pressing epidemics of our time. Much is known about the biology of each condition, but whether T2DM and ADRDs are parallel phenomena arising from coincidental roots in ageing or synergistic diseases linked by vicious pathophysiological cycles remains unclear. Insulin resistance is a core feature of T2DM and is emerging as a potentially important feature of ADRDs. Here, we review key observations and experimental data on insulin signalling in the brain, highlighting its actions in neurons and glia. In addition, we define the concept of 'brain insulin resistance' and review the growing, although still inconsistent, literature concerning cognitive impairment and neuropathological abnormalities in T2DM, obesity and insulin resistance. Lastly, we review evidence of intrinsic brain insulin resistance in ADRDs. By expanding our understanding of the overlapping mechanisms of these conditions, we hope to accelerate the rational development of preventive, disease-modifying and symptomatic treatments for cognitive dysfunction in T2DM and ADRDs alike.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrneurol.2017.185

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  • Glucose metabolism is markedly reduced in Alzheimer disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

    “in AD and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) glucose metabolism is dramatically decreased”

    From Oxidative stress, dysfunctional glucose metabolism and Alzheimer disease (2019) · cites this paper as [7]

    The section “Brain insulin resistance in ADRD, irrespective of T2DM” (page unavailable) describes glucose hypometabolism observed in Alzheimer disease. It also discusses MCI and reports improved FDG-PET metabolism after insulin treatment in a group with AD or MCI, but does not establish that glucose metabolism is markedly reduced specifically in amnestic MCI. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Brain insulin resistance occurs in Alzheimer disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

    “In AD and aMCI, however, brain insulin resistance is present6,7.”

    From Oxidative stress, dysfunctional glucose metabolism and Alzheimer disease (2019) · cites this paper as [7]

    The section “Brain insulin resistance in ADRD, irrespective of T2DM” reports experimentally demonstrated brain insulin resistance in AD and insulin-signalling abnormalities in post-mortem brains from people with AD or MCI. It does not specify that the MCI cases were amnestic, so the aMCI-specific part of the claim is not established by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Glucose enters the brain through efficient transporters and needs insulin for optimal cellular use.

    “Glucose enters the brain from the vasculature through highly efficient glucose transporters and requires insulin for optimal cellular utilization7.”

    From Oxidative stress, dysfunctional glucose metabolism and Alzheimer disease (2019) · cites this paper as [7]

    The “Effects of insulin in neurons” section describes glucose uptake through GLUT3 and says insulin-regulated GLUT4 may improve glucose flux during high metabolic demand. It also explicitly says neuronal glucose uptake and utilization are influenced by insulin, not dependent on it. The source therefore does not support the general claim that optimal cellular use requires insulin. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Glucose metabolism is significantly impaired in Alzheimer disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment brains.

    “Yet glucose metabolism in AD and aMCI brains is significantly impaired5–7,9,38.”

    From Oxidative stress, dysfunctional glucose metabolism and Alzheimer disease (2019) · cites this paper as [7]

    In “Brain insulin resistance in ADRD, irrespective of T2DM” (page unavailable), the review explicitly describes glucose hypometabolism in AD. It also reports abnormal insulin signalling in AD and MCI and improved FDG-PET metabolism after treatment in a combined AD/MCI group, but does not establish the claimed significant impairment of glucose metabolism specifically in amnestic MCI brains. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The brain has high energy demands and depends heavily on efficient ATP production through glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.

    “The brain is an energy-demanding organ and relies heavily on efficient ATP production via glycolysis, the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (Fig. 1)7.”

    From Oxidative stress, dysfunctional glucose metabolism and Alzheimer disease (2019) · cites this paper as [7]

    The “Effects of insulin in neurons” section describes glucose as the brain’s major energy source and links glucose uptake to local energy demand. The “Effects of insulin in glial cells” section describes glycolytic processing of glucose and neuronal ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation during high energy demand. Our copy does not mention the TCA cycle or present all three pathways together as the basis of the brain’s ATP production; page numbers were not available. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Arnold, S. E., Arvanitakis, Z., Macauley-Rambach, S. L., Koenig, A. M., Wang, H.-Y., Ahima, R. S., Craft, S., Gandy, S., Buettner, C., Stoeckel, L. E., Holtzman, D. M., & Nathan, D. M.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Rush University Medical Center (US)
  • City University of New York (US)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (US)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Arnold, Steven E.
Venue
Nature Reviews Neurology
Published
2018-01-29
Volume
14
Issue
3
Pages
168-181
ISSN
  • 1759-4758 (ISSN-L)
  • 1759-4766
OpenAlex
W2786962139
Cited by
1,597
References
286
Citations by year
2026: 223 · 2025: 244 · 2024: 218 · 2023: 205 · 2022: 210 · 2021: 176 · 2020: 163 · 2019: 102 · 2018: 52 · 2015: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
16.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • BrightFocus Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (R21AG051958)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS084965)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Keywords
brain insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, insulin signaling, cognitive impairment, obesity, glia, neurons, neuropathology, comorbidities, aging
MeSH terms
Brain, Dementia, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Insulin, Insulin Resistance

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