Effect of intranasally administered insulin on cerebral blood flow and perfusion: a randomized experiment in young and older adults

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 -