Brain insulin signaling as a potential mediator of early life adversity effects on physical and mental health

Abstract

In numerous brain structures, insulin signaling modulates the homeostatic processes, sensitivity to reward pathways, executive function, memory, and cognition. Through human studies and animal models, mounting evidence implicates central insulin signaling in the metabolic, physiological, and psychological consequences of early life adversity. In this review, we describe the consequences of early life adversity in the brain where insulin signaling is a key factor and how insulin may moderate the effects of adversity on psychiatric and cardio-metabolic health outcomes. Further understanding of how early life adversity and insulin signaling impact specific brain regions and mental and physical health outcomes will assist in prevention, diagnosis, and potential intervention following early life adversity.

Keywords: Brain; Cardio-metabolic disease; Early adversity; Insulin; Psychopathology.