Every month, I’ll be highlighting Diabetes research that is going on RIGHT NOW! Harvested from different websites, journals and podcasts, I’ll translate them into understandable English and share them with you. Today: “For several years, researchers have known that hyperactivity of a subset of neurons located in the hypothalamus, called AgRP neurons, is common in mice with diabetes.”
So…weirdly enough, I just finished a book called THE THREE POUND ENIGMA: The Human Brain and the Quest to Unlock Its Mysteries by Shannon Moffett (©2006). Granted, it’s technically nineteen (most likely 20) years out of date. Most of the book is a fascinating examination of what science and scientists had discovered about the brain up to that point.
But it didn’t talk about how playing with the BRAIN might have an effect on controlling Type 2 diabetes!
“For several years, researchers have known that hyperactivity of a subset of neurons located in the hypothalamus, called AgRP neurons, is common in mice with diabetes. These neurons are playing an outsized role in hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes,” said UW Medicine endocrinologist Dr. Michael Schwartz, corresponding author of the paper.
What’s AgRP? “Agouti-related protein, is produced in the brain by the AgRP/NPY neuron. The cells controlled by the AgRP increase appetite and decrease metabolism and energy expenditure. It is one of the most potent and long-lasting of appetite stimulators.”
So, this protein come from the brain and makes me hungry and lazy!
How’d they figure out the connection between the brain and my Type 2 diabetes? (Not that it comes as any great surprise...)
Once they discovered the connection, “…researchers…made AgRP neurons express tetanus toxin, which prevents the neurons from communicating with other neurons. Unexpectedly, this intervention normalized high blood sugar for months, despite having no effect on body weight or food consumption.”
What’s AgRP? “Agouti-related protein, is produced in the brain by the AgRP/NPY neuron. The cells controlled by the AgRP increase appetite and decrease metabolism and energy expenditure. It is one of the most potent and long-lasting of appetite stimulators.”
So, this protein come from the brain and makes me hungry and lazy!
How’d they figure out the connection between the brain and my Type 2 diabetes? (Not that it comes as any great surprise...)
Once they discovered the connection, “…researchers…made AgRP neurons express tetanus toxin, which prevents the neurons from communicating with other neurons. Unexpectedly, this intervention normalized high blood sugar for months, despite having no effect on body weight or food consumption.”
“The new findings align with studies published by the same scientists showing that injection of a peptide called FGF1 directly into the brain also causes diabetes remission in mice. This effect was subsequently shown to involve sustained inhibition of AgRP neurons…Further research might help scientists to better understand the role of AgRP neurons in how the body normally controls blood sugar, and to ultimately translate these findings into human clinical trials, he added.”
WHOA!!! Amazing! (Weird how I just happened to be reading a book on how the brain works!)
So…if I understand this right, it may someday be possible for me to get a shot to the brain by a protein that makes neurons in my brain produce a TETANUS TOXIN...that abruptly causes the communication between neurons to STOP telling my body that it wants to eat more and exercise less? And this will make my blood sugars return to normal?
WOW!
Now don’t get me wrong – THIS IS NOT A TREATMENT YET!!!!!
But…it’s a possible treatment, AND has the advantage of removing from ME responsibility of taking ANY blame for being diabetic! Just the RESEARCH is communicating to the world that THIS WAS NOT MY FAULT!!! (Or the fault of my genetics!)
THIS is the definition of "weird science"!
Links: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515191148.htm
Image: https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1254574508/vector/world-diabetes-day-banner-or-flyer-with-diabetes-symbol-blue-round-frame-and-map-14th.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=lLYo37GeVPirX-phRKE-p6h64a0_BoSMZQ4nFwcS6Y4=
Links: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515191148.htm
Image: https://media.istockphoto.com/id/1254574508/vector/world-diabetes-day-banner-or-flyer-with-diabetes-symbol-blue-round-frame-and-map-14th.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=lLYo37GeVPirX-phRKE-p6h64a0_BoSMZQ4nFwcS6Y4=
