New evidence for a neuronal link between insulin-related diseases and schizophrenia | Observations, Scientific American Blog Network
New evidence for a neuronal link between insulin-related diseases and schizophrenia | Observations, Scientific American Blog Network
When the body does not properly manage insulin levels, diabetes and other metabolic disorders are familiar outcomes. That hormonal imbalance, however, has also been linked to a higher risk for psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. And a new study has uncovered a potential pathway by which this metabolic hormone can upset the balance of a key neurotransmitter.
"We know that people with diabetes have an increased incidence of mood and other psychiatric disorders," Kevin Niswender, an endocrinologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and coauthor of the study, said in a prepared statement. Previous researchers, including Aurelio Galli, a neurobiologist at Vanderbilt, had found that insulin was affecting more than blood sugar levels.
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