Diabetes

Function and therapeutic value of astrocytes in diabetic cognitive impairmentSummaries

Diabetic cognitive impairment is characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities and behavioral changes, and it’s associated with changes in brain morphology and neurophysiological abnormalities. Several studies cited in the review have confirmed a heightened risk of cognitive impairment in individuals with diabetes, establishing diabetes as a significant risk factor for cognitive decline.

The review also highlights the critical role of astrocytes, which are prevalent glial cells in the central nervous system. While extensive research has been conducted on the dysfunction of astrocytes in various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, their potential role in diabetic cognitive impairment has not been adequately explored.

The authors of the review have focused on summarizing the impacts of diabetes on brain astrocytes and identified that the diabetic environment, characterized by factors like hyperglycemia, elevated levels of advanced glycation end products, and cerebral insulin resistance, leads to a response known as reactive astrogliosis. This response is noticeable through alterations in cell morphology and the restructuring of signature molecules.

Furthermore, the review stresses the significant consequences of reactive astrogliosis on diabetic cognitive impairment. The authors found that this phenomenon aggravates cognitive dysfunction by increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, causing glymphatic system malfunction, inducing neuroinflammation, disrupting normal cell communication, and hindering proper cholesterol metabolism.

The discussion implies that understanding the role and mechanisms of astrocyte response in diabetes can potentially unveil new therapeutic targets to mitigate diabetic cognitive impairment.