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Trial lecture - time and place
06.10.2023, 10.15, Auditorium 1, Helga Eng
Heart-brain axis: how cardiovascular diseases affect the brain?
Conferral summary
Type 2 diabetes er en sykdom med økende prevalens, hovedsakelig på grunn av kosthold og inaktivitet, med potensielle konsekvenser som kognitiv svikt og ubalanse i tarmfloraen. Insulinresistens spiller en nøkkelrolle i sykdommen og påvirker også hjernen. Lipiddråper i nerveceller er assosiert med og blir påvirket av type 2 diabetes. Trening har positive effekter på insulinresistens og kognitiv helse, men i dette prosjektet var lipiddråper i hjernen upåvirket av trening mens balansen i tarmfloraen ble reddet.
Main research findings
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is on the rise due to our modern lifestyle. This condition disturbs our body's ability to handle insulin and affects not only the peripheral parts of our body but also our brain. In our brains it can cause memory issues and depression, while also upsetting the balance of gut microbes that in turn can influence our brain health. Exercise has for a long time been recommended by experts to manage T2DM.
Lipid droplets (LDs) have become increasingly popular in the field of neuroscience. Increase of these spheres filled with lipids in our brain is associated with increased neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
This PhD project explored how T2DM impacts the brain and whether exercise can help. It was discovered that certain brain areas are filled with more LD, there are also differences in amount of LD between different types of cells in the brain.
The project also peeked into the bacteria living in our guts. T2DM changes this bacterial community, and exercise has an impact too. Some brain-friendly bacteria decrease in diabetes, but exercise helps restore their population.