Insulin resistance decreases the brain's ability to signal with insulin, potentially causing molecular mechanisms and mitochondrial dysfunction.

“if insulin can't do its signaling within the brain then you're looking at molecular mechanisms and mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain could that lead to inflammation yes it certainly appears to lead to at least oxidative stress reactive oxygen species could it lead to microglial cell activation yes it could”

“is it possible that something about insulin resistance which we know is going to decrease the ability of insulin to signal within the brain insulin is a peptide hormone that also signals within the brain it has effects on the kidney retention of electrolytes which is something i've talked about in the past it has effects on the muscles the liver and the brain insulin is a important hormone everywhere and if you're insulin resistant all of your signals are going to get turned down everywhere if insulin can't do its signaling within the brain then you're looking at molecular mechanisms and mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain”