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Impact of Brain Insulin Signaling on Dopamine Function, Food Intake, Reward, and Emotional Behavior

  • Nutrition and the Brain (J Nasser, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Dietary obesity is primarily attributed to an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. Adherence to lifestyle interventions reducing weight is typically low. As a result, obesity becomes a chronic state with increased co-morbidities such as insulin resistance and diabetes. We review the effects of brain insulin action and dopaminergic signal transmission on food intake, reward, and mood as well as potential modulations of these systems to counteract the obesity epidemic.

Recent Findings

Central insulin and dopamine action are interlinked and impact on food intake, reward, and mood. Brain insulin resistance causes hyperphagia, anxiety, and depressive-like behavior and compromises the dopaminergic system. Such effects can induce reduced compliance to medical treatment. Insulin receptor sensitization and dopamine receptor agonists show attenuation of obesity and improvement of mental health in rodents and humans.

Summary

Modulating brain insulin and dopamine signaling in obese patients can potentially improve therapeutic outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was in part supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) grant project KL 2399/4-1 (to A.K.), by a grant from the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the State of Brandenburg (DZD grant 82DZD00302 to A.K.), by NIH/NIDDK (R01 DK065872 and ARRA 3R01DK065872-04S1; ENP) and the Tufts Center for Neuroscience Research (P30 NS047243), and an Award of Excellence in Biomedical Research by the Smith Family Foundation (ENP) and the Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Drug Development, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine (ENP).

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  1. Central Regulation of Metabolism, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany

    André Kleinridders

  2. German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstaedter Land Str. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    André Kleinridders

  3. Program in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology and Drug Development, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences and Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Emmanuel N. Pothos

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  1. André Kleinridders
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Kleinridders, A., Pothos, E.N. Impact of Brain Insulin Signaling on Dopamine Function, Food Intake, Reward, and Emotional Behavior. Curr Nutr Rep 8, 83–91 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-019-0276-z

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