Affiliations: [a] Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | [b] Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | [c] Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | [d] Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal | [e] College of Sciences, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA | [f] Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Paula I. Moreira, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal. E-mail: venta@ci.uc.pt; pismoreira@gmail.com.
Abstract: Insulin, long known as an important regulator of blood glucose levels, plays important and multifaceted roles in the brain. It has been reported that insulin is an important neuromodulator, contributing to several neurobiological processes in particular energy homeostasis and cognition. Dysregulation of insulin signaling has been linked to aging and metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. The first part of this review is devoted to discussion of the critical role of insulin signaling in normal brain function. Then the involvement of impaired insulin signaling in the pathophysiology of diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis will be discussed. Finally, the potential therapeutic effect of insulin and insulin sensitizers will be examined.
