Rutgers study reveals that exercise activates insulin-related brain cells, possibly improving cognition and offering new strategies to prevent dementia
Study: Two weeks of effort changes neuronal extracellular blisters insulin signaling and pro-BDNF in older adults with prediabetes. Image Credit: Oatawa/Shutterstock.com
A recent study published in Outdoor Investigates the impact of exercise on the short -term regulation of insulin paths in brain circuits.
Insulin and the brain
Insulin is a glucose -lowering hormone that focuses on the peripheral tissues, especially the skeletal muscle and fat tissues. Insulin also circulates through the brain, where it can influence the function of the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus, both of which are brains involved in memory and cognition.
Reduced insulin trade in the brain is associated with aging and prediabetes, which can reduce neuronal insulin signaling and/or can lead to insulin resistance. In fact, insulin sensitivity is considered an important characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD).
Investigating changes in neuronal extracellular blisters (NEVs) has the potential to offer important insights into the pathophysiology of insulin sensitivity in the brain, because NEVs come from neurons, pass the blood-brain barrier and can be trapped from peripheral blood.
Exercise and cognition
It has been shown that practice improves cognitive function by increasing the volume of the gray matter or preventing its shrinkage, maintaining brain circulation, improving mitochondrial breathing and reducing neuro inflammation. Researchers recently reported an increased sensitivity of the brain insulin of eight weeks of training training in young adults. Likewise, higher levels from the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the NEVs have been observed after 16 weeks of effort.
Despite these observations, it remains unclear whether exercise influences insulin signaling proteins in NEVs whether the Pro-BDNF levels in prediabetic elderly increases.
About the study
Prediabetes is characterized by fasting blood glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dl, two hours of postprandial glucose levels within the range from 140 to 199 mg/dl and/or glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C) levels between 5.7-6.4%. All participants in the study were diagnosed with prediabetes, as demonstrated by a 75 g glucosetolerance test (GTT) assessed according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
The current study included 21 sedentary older adults with an average age of 60 and an average body mass index (BMI) of 33.5 kg/m2. However, none of these persons smoked, was diagnosed with other comorbidities or was prescribed glucose-lowering medicines.
Training training -Intervention
A two-week supervision of 12-sessions program of Continue or Interval exercise was started, with 13 and eight participants in the two types of training groups respectively. In the continuous group, every session focused on reaching 70% of the peak heart rate (HRPeak), compared to 90% and 50% of HRPEeak for three minutes in the interval training group. All exercise sessions each lasted 60 minutes, with day seven a day of rest.
The aerobic fitness and body weight were measured before and after the practice intervention. With the help of a 75 g oral GTT (OGTT), the fasting glucosetolerance of the entire body was measured as the total surface under the curve (Tauc). The simple index of insulin sensitivity (SIIs) was also assessed.
Immediately before OGTT and an hour from the start, NEV levels were measured to determine NEV-Associed Insulin Signaling Fine and Pro-BDNF levels. Differences in protein levels At these times reflected the stimulation of insulin delivery by the OGTT.
The intensity of effort did not change the NEV measurements. As a result, the subgroups were assessed together on the effects on the insulin path.
Changes in insulin signaling
After exercise, a higher peak of oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), peripheral insulin sensitivity and vetoxidation, together with reduced body weight and improved glucosetolerance of the entire body, were observed.
After training, the Pro-BDNF levels fell at the start of the OGTT; However, no changes have occurred after glucose intake. Exercise also increased the post-oytt-insulin signaling protein in parallel with a reduction in the ratio of Pakt Takt at the point of the one-hour test. This change in Takt after the glucose intake was higher after exercise than at the start.
Other NEV-Associed proteins such as P-IRS-Ser473, PJNK, P-OM-1/2 or PP38 showed no change after exercise.
Conclusions
Two weeks of exercise changed neuronal insulin signaling reactions to glucose intake and reduced pro-Bndf in adults with prediabetes, which can reduce the ADRD risk. “
After training at the training, NEVs contain more striking in response to fasting or postprandial glucose intake without any change. This observation reflects better insulin signaling in brain neurons and improved insulin sensitivity in the brain.
These findings confirm earlier work report that improved peripheral insulin sensitivity leads to larger glucose absorption by peripheral tissues and less in the brain. The brain can rely on fatty acids that are released from fatty tissues that have been broken down in response to the increased energy consumption without a corresponding increase in food intake.
Additional research is needed to clarify the effects of different forms and sages of exercise on NEV protein cargos and cognitive function. These studies have the potential to support the development of future interventions that ADRD can prevent or treat with these high -risk patients.
Journal Reference:
- Malin, SK, Battilo, DJ, Beeri, MS, et Alt Alto. (2024). For two weeks of exercise, neuronal extracellular vesicle insulin signalingsei proteins changes in older adults with prediabetes. Outdoor. DOI: 10.1111/ACEL.14369.