Brain Insulin Signalling and Lifespan

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

It seems this is saying that, at least in mice, even if obese and

hyperinsulinemic everywhere else, just reduced brain insulin

signalling can extend lifespan significantly.

This seems to be another piece of evidence suggesting that the brain

is a major link in the process by which the rate of body aging is

regulated:

Science. 2007 Jul 20;317(5836):369-72

" Brain IRS2 signaling coordinates life span and nutrient homeostasis. "

Taguchi A, Wartschow LM, White MF.

Medical Institute, Division of Endocrinology,

Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115,

USA.

" Reduced insulin-like signaling extends the life span of

Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. Here, we show that, in mice,

less insulin receptor substrate-2 (Irs2) signaling throughout the

body or just in the brain extended life span up to 18%. At 22 months

of age, brain-specific Irs2 knockout mice were overweight,

hyperinsulinemic, and glucose intolerant; however, compared with

control mice, they were more active and displayed greater glucose

oxidation, and during meals they displayed stable superoxide

dismutase-2 concentrations in the hypothalamus. Thus, less Irs2

signaling in aging brains can promote healthy metabolism, attenuate

meal-induced oxidative stress, and extend the life span of overweight

and insulin-resistant mice. "

PMID: 17641201

Rodney.