Lifestyle impacts on insulin transport at the blood‐brain barrier in mice

The blood‐brain barrier (BBB) is a regulatory interface, controlling the blood‐to‐brain transport of many substances, resulting in nutrient delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) and communication between the periphery and CNS. There are structural and functional changes within the BBB in Alzheimer’s disease, which may contribute to the detrimental effects occurring within the CNS. CNS insulin resistance is one of many detrimental features of Alzheimer’s disease. As the BBB is responsible for the delivery of insulin to the CNS, alterations in insulin BBB transport could be a cause of CNS insulin resistance. Indeed, various lifestyle factors are known to impact insulin BBB pharmacokinetics, including diet and exercise, which have also been shown to impact Alzheimer’s disease progression.