IGF-1 and GLP-1 Signaling: Potential Therapeutic Target for Neurological Disorders – Correspondence

Abstract

Neuronal cell survival, proliferation, and neurogenesis are all dependent on insulin-like growth factor-1/glucagon like pep- tide-1 (IGF-1/GLP-1) signaling. In the last few decades, the downregulation of IGF-1 and GLP-1 has been linked to pro- blems in the nervous system and these two proteins have become possible therapeutic targets for a number of neuro- degenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Consequentially, activation of the IGF-1/GLP-1 receptor may play a vital role in neuronal protection. In their review, Bhalla et al. [1] put toge- ther evidence about how IGF-1 and GLP-1 signaling target activators could be used to treat neurological disorders. The analogy of IGF-1 and GLP-1 cross the blood–brain barrier and perform neuroprotective functions such as synaptic formation, neuronal plasticity, protein synthesis, and autophagy.