Cited by 162Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCancer-related cognitive impairment studies

Effect of Intranasal Insulin on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

Shemesh, Elad, Rudich, Assaf, Harman-Boehm, Ilana, Cukierman-Yaffe, Tali·2012·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Abstract

AIM: Epidemiological and mechanistic studies raised the possibility that cognitive function may be affected by brain responses to insulin. We systematically reviewed and analyzed existing clinical trials that assessed the potential beneficial effects of intranasal insulin administration on cognitive functions. METHODS: Interventional studies measuring changes in cognitive functions in response to intranasal insulin were retrieved and included if they were in English and assessed cognitive functions before and after treatment. Cohen's effect size was calculated to allow comparison between studies. RESULTS: Eight studies (328 participants) were analyzed. No significant side effects of intranasal insulin administration were reported. Seven studies included healthy subjects' response to intranasal insulin, and three evaluated the cognitive effect among patients with minimal cognitive impairment or overt Alzheimer's disease. In healthy people, Cohen's effect size calculations suggest that only 160 IU/d intranasal insulin induced potential beneficial effects. Although females, when compared head-to-head, exhibited greater improvements in cognitive tests than men, the composite analysis of all included studies did not support this trend. Among cognitively impaired patients, only lower doses of insulin were assessed, and 20 IU revealed potential beneficial effects on cognitive functions. This was significant in a single study assessing long-term intranasal insulin administration, whereas acute administration of 20 IU intranasal insulin tended to show a beneficial effect on immediate recall in Apo ε4(-), but not Apo ε4(+), patients. CONCLUSIONS: The current limited clinical experience suggests potential beneficial cognitive effects of intranasal insulin. Analyses provide clinical considerations for future research aimed at elucidating whether intranasal insulin may be used to improve cognitive functions.

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Crossref · 10.1210/jc.2011-1802

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  • Results from preclinical studies and controlled trials on healthy volunteers and individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease have supported the potential of intranasal insulin in improving memory performance.

    “Results obtained from preclinical studies and controlled trials on healthy volunteers and individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease have supported the potential of intranasal insulin in improving memory performance [113].”

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Authors
Shemesh, E., Rudich, A., Harman-Boehm, I., & Cukierman-Yaffe, T.
Affiliations
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
Corresponding author
Rudich, Assaf
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Published
2012-02
Volume
97
Issue
2
Pages
366-376
ISSN
  • 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7197
OpenAlex
W2112186260
Cited by
162
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 8
FWCI
10.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
Keywords
intranasal insulin, cognitive function, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, sex differences, APOE ε4, immediate recall, insulin dose, brain insulin signaling
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Alzheimer Disease, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Humans, Insulin, Male, Sex Characteristics, Treatment Outcome

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