TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of intranasally administered insulin on cerebral blood flow and perfusion
T2 - a randomized experiment in young and older adults
AU - Akintola, Abimbola A.
AU - van Opstal, Anna M.
AU - Westendorp, Rudi G.
AU - Postmus, Iris
AU - van der Grond, Jeroen
AU - van Heemst, Diana
PY - 2017/3/14
Y1 - 2017/3/14
N2 - Insulin, a vasoactive modulator regulating peripheral and cerebral blood flow, has been consistently linked to aging and longevity. In this proof of principle study, using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design, we explored the effects of intranasally administered insulin (40IU) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and perfusion in older (60-69 years, n=11) and younger (20-26 years, n=8) adults. Changes in CBF through the major cerebropetal arteries were assessed via phase contrast MR-angiography, and regional cortical tissue perfusion via pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling. Total flow through the major cerebropetal arteries was unchanged in both young and old. In the older participants, intranasal insulin compared to placebo increased perfusion through the occipital gray matter (65.2±11.0 mL/100g/min vs 61.2±10.1 mL/100g/min, P=0.001), and in the thalamus (68.28±6.75 mL/100g/min versus 63.31±6.84 mL/100g/min, P=0.003). Thus, intranasal insulin improved tissue perfusion of the occipital cortical brain region and the thalamus in older adults.
AB - Insulin, a vasoactive modulator regulating peripheral and cerebral blood flow, has been consistently linked to aging and longevity. In this proof of principle study, using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design, we explored the effects of intranasally administered insulin (40IU) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and perfusion in older (60-69 years, n=11) and younger (20-26 years, n=8) adults. Changes in CBF through the major cerebropetal arteries were assessed via phase contrast MR-angiography, and regional cortical tissue perfusion via pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling. Total flow through the major cerebropetal arteries was unchanged in both young and old. In the older participants, intranasal insulin compared to placebo increased perfusion through the occipital gray matter (65.2±11.0 mL/100g/min vs 61.2±10.1 mL/100g/min, P=0.001), and in the thalamus (68.28±6.75 mL/100g/min versus 63.31±6.84 mL/100g/min, P=0.003). Thus, intranasal insulin improved tissue perfusion of the occipital cortical brain region and the thalamus in older adults.
KW - intranasal insulin
KW - cerebral blood flow
KW - aging
KW - phase contrast MR angiography
KW - continuous arterial spin labelling (CASL)
KW - magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
U2 - 10.18632/aging.101192
DO - 10.18632/aging.101192
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28291957
SN - 1945-4589
VL - 9
SP - 790
EP - 802
JO - Aging
JF - Aging
IS - 3
ER -