Anorexigenic neuropeptides as anti-obesity and neuroprotective agents: exploring the neuroprotective effects of anorexigenic neuropeptides

• Published in: Bioscience reports 2024-04, Vol.44 (4), p.1
• Main Authors: Strnadová, Veronika, Pačesová, Andrea, Charvát, Vilém, Šmotková, Zuzana, Železná, Blanka, Kuneš, Jaroslav, Maletínská, Lenka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Alzheimer Disease - prevention & control; Alzheimer's disease; Animal models; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use; Body weight; Brain; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Brain - pathology; Brain stem; Cardiovascular diseases; Comorbidity; Dementia disorders; Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Eating - drug effects; Epidemiology; Food; Food intake; Health services; Humans; Hypertension; Hypothalamus; Hypothalamus - drug effects; Hypothalamus - metabolism; Hypothalamus - pathology; Metabolism; Neurodegeneration; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - drug therapy; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neurodegenerative Diseases - prevention & control; Neuropeptides; Neuropeptides - metabolism; Neuropeptides - pharmacology; Neuropeptides - therapeutic use; Neuroprotection; Neuroprotective agents; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Neuroprotective Agents - therapeutic use; Neuroscience; Obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Peptides; Pharmacology & Toxicology; Review; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0144-8463; 1573-4935
• DOI: 10.1042/BSR20231385

Since 1975, the incidence of obesity has increased to epidemic proportions, and the number of patients with obesity has quadrupled. Obesity is a major risk factor for developing other serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Recent epidemiologic studies have defined obesity as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia. Despite all these serious comorbidities associated with obesity, there is still a lack of effective antiobesity treatment. Promising candidates for the treatment of obesity are anorexigenic neuropeptides, which are peptides produced by neurons in brain areas implicated in food intake regulation, such as the hypothalamus or the brainstem. These peptides efficiently reduce food intake and body weight. Moreover, because of the proven interconnection between obesity and the risk of developing AD, the potential neuroprotective effects of these two agents in animal models of neurodegeneration have been examined. The objective of this review was to explore anorexigenic neuropeptides produced and acting within the brain, emphasizing their potential not only for the treatment of obesity but also for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.