Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2010 Dec;64(13):1808-12.
doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2010.02536.x.

The procognitive effects of leptin in the brain and their clinical implications

G Paz-Filho  1 , M-L Wong, J Licinio
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

The procognitive effects of leptin in the brain and their clinical implications

G Paz-Filho et al. Int J Clin Pract. 2010 Dec.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone produced mainly by the adipose tissue. Its most well-known effect is to regulate food intake and energy metabolism within the hypothalamus. More recently, several peripheral and extra-hypothalamic effects have been described, expanding leptin's actions far beyond energy balance.

Aims: To review the extra-hypothalamic effects of leptin and their possible clinical implications.

Methods: We did a PubMed search using the terms "leptin" AND "brain" AND "neuron" AND "glial", and selected the most relevant articles.

Results: In extra-hypothalamic sites, leptin has remarkable effects on neurogenesis, axon growth, synaptogenesis, denditric morphology, development of oligodendroglial cells, neuron excitability, neuroprotection and regulation of beta-amyloid levels. Those effects have been shown to improve cognition and mood in animal models of depression and anxiety. In lean humans, leptin levels have been negatively correlated with the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Conclusions: Leptin has extra-hypothalamic effects that may protect the brain against the development of mood and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Better understanding of those effects may lead to the development of potential leptin-based therapies against such conditions.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00657605 NCT00659828.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Friedman JM. Leptin, leptin receptors, and the control of body weight. Nutr Rev. 1998;56:S38–46. discussion s54-75. - PubMed
    1. Bluher S, Mantzoros CS. Leptin in reproduction. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2007;14:458–64. - PubMed
    1. Chan JL, Mantzoros CS. Role of leptin in energy-deprivation states: normal human physiology and clinical implications for hypothalamic amenorrhoea and anorexia nervosa. Lancet. 2005;366:74–85. - PubMed
    1. Brennan AM, Mantzoros CS. Leptin and adiponectin: their role in diabetes. Curr Diab Rep. 2007;7:1–2. - PubMed
    1. Ceddia RB. Direct metabolic regulation in skeletal muscle and fat tissue by leptin: implications for glucose and fatty acids homeostasis. Int J Obes (Lond) 2005;29:1175–83. - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data