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Insulin and the insulin receptor in experimental models of learning and memory
Zhao WQ, Chen H, Quon MJ, Quon MJ, Alkon DL.. European journal of pharmacology, 2004-04-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Insulin is best known for its action on peripheral insulin target tissues such as the adipocyte, muscle and liver to regulate glucose homeostasis. In the central nervous system (CNS), insulin and the insulin receptor are found in specific brain regions where they show evidence of participation in a variety of region-specific functions through mechanisms that are different from its direct glucose regulation in the periphery. While the insulin/insulin receptor associated with the hypothalamus plays important roles in regulation of the body energy homeostasis, the hippocampus- and cerebral cortex-distributed insulin/insulin receptor has been shown to be involved in brain cognitive functions. Emerging evidence has suggested that insulin signaling plays a role in synaptic plasticity by modulating activities of excitatory and inhibitory receptors such as glutamate and GABA receptors, and by triggering signal transduction cascades leading to alteration of gene expression that is required for long-term memory consolidation. Furthermore, deterioration of insulin receptor signaling appears to be associated with aging-related brain degeneration such as the Alzheimer's dementia and cognitive impairment in aged subjects suffering type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zhao, W. Q., Chen, H., Quon, M. J., & Alkon, D. L. (2004). Insulin and the insulin receptor in experimental models of learning and memory. European journal of pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.02.045
Vancouver
Zhao WQ, Chen H, Quon MJ, Alkon DL. Insulin and the insulin receptor in experimental models of learning and memory. European journal of pharmacology. 2004. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.02.045. PMID: 15094074.
BibTeX
@article{zhao2004-15094074,
author = {Zhao, W. Q. and Chen, H. and Quon, M. J. and Alkon, D. L.},
title = {{Insulin and the insulin receptor in experimental models of learning and memory}},
journal = {European journal of pharmacology},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.02.045},
pmid = {15094074},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.02.045}
}
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Key findings
- While the insulin/insulin receptor associated with the hypothalamus plays important roles in regulation of the body energy homeostasis, the hippocampus- and cerebral cortex-distributed insulin/insulin receptor has been shown to be involved in brain cognitive functions.
- Emerging evidence has suggested that insulin signaling plays a role in synaptic plasticity by modulating activities of excitatory and inhibitory receptors such as glutamate and GABA receptors, and by triggering signal transduction cascades leading to alteration of gene expression that is required for long-term memory consolidation.
- Furthermore, deterioration of insulin receptor signaling appears to be associated with aging-related brain degeneration such as the Alzheimer's dementia and cognitive impairment in aged subjects suffering type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Why it matters
This review of experimental models describes how insulin signaling in the hippocampus and cortex may be involved in learning and memory, and notes that deterioration of insulin receptor signaling is associated with aging-related brain degeneration. It is based on animal and laboratory work and does not show that any insulin treatment helps people with Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (European journal of pharmacology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | European Journal of Pharmacology: journal h-index 276 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 502 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.9 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 33 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Daniel L. Alkon: h-index 79 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | National Institutes of Health: institution h-index 2,723 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15094074) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
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