A research study has actually connected a high-sugar diet plan to insulin resistance in the brain, hindering the elimination of neuronal particles and possibly increasing the threat of neurodegenerative illness such as Alzheimer’s.
High- sugar diet plan in fruit flies results in < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>insulin</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Insulin is a hormone that regulates the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is produced by the pancreas and released into the bloodstream when the level of glucose in the blood rises, such as after a meal. Insulin helps to transport glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use. Insulin also helps to regulate the metabolism of fat and protein. In individuals with diabetes, their body doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't respond properly to insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > insulin resistance in the brain and hinders clean-up of neuronal waste.
Researchers led byMrojAlassaf at theFredHutchinsonCancerResearchCenter in theUnitedStates have actually found a link in between weight problems and neurodegenerative conditions like < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>Alzheimer’s</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Alzheimer's disease is a disease that attacks the brain, causing a decline in mental ability that worsens over time. It is the most common form of dementia and accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. There is no current cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there are medications that can help ease the symptoms.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" >Alzheimer’s(**************** )illness.Using the typical fruit fly, the research study reveals that a high-sugar diet plan– a trademark of weight problems– triggers insulin resistance in the brain, which in turn decreases the capability to get rid of neuronal particles, hence increasing the threat of neurodegeneration.Published onNovember 7 th outdoors gain access to journal PLOSBiology, the research study will affect treatments created to minimize the threat of establishing neurodegenerative illness.
Insulin Resistance and Neuronal Debris
Although weight problems is understood to be a danger element for neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s illness and Parkinson’s illness, precisely how one results in the other stays a secret. The brand-new research study concentrated on addressing this concern by benefiting from the resemblance in between people and fruit flies. Having formerly revealed that a high-sugar diet plan results in insulin resistance in the peripheral organs of flies, the scientists now turned to their brains. Specifically, they took a look at glial cells due to the fact that microglial dysfunction is understood to cause neural degeneration.
Sugar fly. Artistic rendering created by DALL.E utilizing the timely “The drawing of the fruit fly Drosophila in a dark background in the style of Seurat.” The scientists fed fruit flies high-sugar diet plans and took a look at the result on brain function. Credit: Akhila Rajan
Implications for Neurodegenerative Disease Risk
Levels of the protein PI3k suggest just how much a cell has the ability to react to insulin. The scientists discovered that the high-sugar diet plan resulted in lowered PI3k levels in glial cells, suggesting insulin resistance. They likewise took a look at the fly equivalent of microglia, called ensheathing glia, whose main function is to get rid of neural particles, such as deteriorating axons. They observed that these glia had low levels of the protein Draper, suggesting impaired function.
Further tests exposed that synthetic decrease of PI3k levels resulted in both insulin resistance and low Draper levels in ensheathing glia. Finally, they revealed that after in fact harmful olfactory nerve cells, the ensheathing glia might not get rid of the deteriorating axons in the flies on the high-sugar diet plan due to the fact that their Draper levels did not increase.
The authors include, “Using fruit flies, the authors establish that high-sugar diets trigger insulin resistance in glia, disrupting their ability to clear neuronal debris. This study provides insight into how obesity-inducing diets potentially contribute to the increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders.”
Reference: “Diet-induced glial insulin resistance impairs the clearance of neuronal debris in Drosophila brain” by Mroj Alassaf and Akhila Rajan, 7 November 2023, PLOS Biology
DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pbio.3002359
Funding: This work is possible due to grants granted to AR from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35 GM124593), the Brain Research structure (BRFSG-2022-09), and the 2023 McKnight Foundation Neurobiology DisordersAward MA is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Helen Hay WhitneyFoundation The funders had no function in research study style, information collection and analysis, choice to release, or preparation of the manuscript.
