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Gómez-Ilescas A, Silveira PP. Early adversity and the comorbidity between metabolic disease and psychopathology. J Physiol 2025. [PMID: 40349327 DOI: 10.1113/jp285927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2025] [Indexed: 05/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Although the co-existence of metabolic and psychiatric disorders in the same individual (comorbidity) is very prevalent, the mechanisms by which these disorders co-occur are poorly understood, but a history of early-life adversity is a common developmental risk factor. Exposure to adverse environments during critical periods of development (e.g. fetal life and infancy) modifies the metabolism and the function of the brain persistently, influencing behaviours that contribute to both metabolic and mental health disarrangements over the life course. We will review molecular and clinical evidence supporting the notion that early adversity is an important risk factor for the comorbidity between metabolic and psychiatric conditions. We will also discuss the possible mechanisms involved: neurometabolic programming, epigenetic alterations and the cumulative effects of altered inflammatory and oxidative pathways linked to early adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia Pelufo Silveira
- Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Alberry B, Silveira PP. Brain insulin signaling as a potential mediator of early life adversity effects on physical and mental health. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105350. [PMID: 37544390 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
In numerous brain structures, insulin signaling modulates the homeostatic processes, sensitivity to reward pathways, executive function, memory, and cognition. Through human studies and animal models, mounting evidence implicates central insulin signaling in the metabolic, physiological, and psychological consequences of early life adversity. In this review, we describe the consequences of early life adversity in the brain where insulin signaling is a key factor and how insulin may moderate the effects of adversity on psychiatric and cardio-metabolic health outcomes. Further understanding of how early life adversity and insulin signaling impact specific brain regions and mental and physical health outcomes will assist in prevention, diagnosis, and potential intervention following early life adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Alberry
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Patricia Pelufo Silveira
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Lee SH, Paz-Filho G, Mastronardi C, Licinio J, Wong ML. Is increased antidepressant exposure a contributory factor to the obesity pandemic? Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e759. [PMID: 26978741 PMCID: PMC4872449 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity are both common heterogeneous disorders with complex aetiology, with a major impact on public health. Antidepressant prescribing has risen nearly 400% since 1988, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In parallel, adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980, from 15 to 30 percent, while childhood obesity rates have more than tripled. Rising obesity rates have significant health consequences, contributing to increased rates of more than thirty serious diseases. Despite the concomitant rise of antidepressant use and of the obesity rates in Western societies, the association between the two, as well as the mechanisms underlying antidepressant-induced weight gain, remain under explored. In this review, we highlight the complex relationship between antidepressant use, MDD and weight gain. Clinical findings have suggested that obesity may increase the risk of developing MDD, and vice versa. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation occurs in the state of stress; concurrently, the HPA axis is also dysregulated in obesity and metabolic syndrome, making it the most well-understood shared common pathophysiological pathway with MDD. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of different classes of antidepressants on body weight. Previous clinical studies suggest that the tricyclics amitriptyline, nortriptyline and imipramine, and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor mirtazapine are associated with weight gain. Despite the fact that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use has been associated with weight loss during acute treatment, a number of studies have shown that SSRIs may be associated with long-term risk of weight gain; however, because of high variability and multiple confounds in clinical studies, the long-term effect of SSRI treatment and SSRI exposure on body weight remains unclear. A recently developed animal paradigm shows that the combination of stress and antidepressants followed by long-term high-fat diet results, long after discontinuation of antidepressant treatment, in markedly increased weight, in excess of what is caused by high-fat diet alone. On the basis of existing epidemiological, clinical and preclinical data, we have generated the testable hypothesis that escalating use of antidepressants, resulting in high rates of antidepressant exposure, might be a contributory factor to the obesity epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H Lee
- Department of Genome Sciences, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - G Paz-Filho
- Department of Genome Sciences, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - C Mastronardi
- Department of Genome Sciences, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - J Licinio
- Pharmacogenomics Research Program, Mind and Brain Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - M-L Wong
- Pharmacogenomics Research Program, Mind and Brain Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia,Pharmacogenomics Research Program, Mind and Brain Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Flinders University, PO Box 11060, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. E-mail:
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Silveira PP, Benetti CDS, Portella AK, Diehl LA, Molle RD, Lucion AB, Dalmaz C. Brief daily postpartum separations from the litter alter dam response to psychostimulants and to stress. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH = REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISAS MEDICAS E BIOLOGICAS 2013. [PMID: 23739746 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431×20132784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal handling induces several behavioral and neurochemical alterations in pups, including decreased responses to stress and reduced fear in new environments. However, there are few reports in the literature concerning the behavioral effects of this neonatal intervention on the dams during the postpartum period. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine if brief postpartum separation from pups has a persistent impact on the dam's stress response and behavior. Litters were divided into two neonatal groups: 1) non-handled and 2) handled [10 min/day, from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 10]. Weaning occurred at PND 21 when behavioral tasks started to be applied to the dams, including sweet food ingestion (PND 21), forced swimming test (PND 28), and locomotor response to a psychostimulant (PND 28). On postpartum day 40, plasma was collected at baseline for leptin assays and after 1 h of restraint for corticosterone assay. Regarding sweet food consumption, behavior during the forced swimming test or plasma leptin levels did not differ between dams briefly separated and non-separated from their pups during the postpartum period. On the other hand, both increased locomotion in response to diethylpropion and increased corticosterone secretion in response to acute stress were detected in dams briefly separated from their pups during the first 10 postnatal days. Taken together, these findings suggest that brief, repeated separations from the pups during the neonatal period persistently impact the behavior and induce signs of dopaminergic sensitization in the dam.
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Affiliation(s)
- P P Silveira
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
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Silveira PP, Benetti CDS, Portella AK, Diehl LA, Molle RD, Lucion AB, Dalmaz C. Brief daily postpartum separations from the litter alter dam response to psychostimulants and to stress. Braz J Med Biol Res 2013; 46:426-32. [PMID: 23739746 PMCID: PMC3854400 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20132784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonatal handling induces several behavioral and neurochemical alterations in pups, including decreased responses to stress and reduced fear in new environments. However, there are few reports in the literature concerning the behavioral effects of this neonatal intervention on the dams during the postpartum period. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine if brief postpartum separation from pups has a persistent impact on the dam's stress response and behavior. Litters were divided into two neonatal groups: 1) non-handled and 2) handled [10 min/day, from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 10]. Weaning occurred at PND 21 when behavioral tasks started to be applied to the dams, including sweet food ingestion (PND 21), forced swimming test (PND 28), and locomotor response to a psychostimulant (PND 28). On postpartum day 40, plasma was collected at baseline for leptin assays and after 1 h of restraint for corticosterone assay. Regarding sweet food consumption, behavior during the forced swimming test or plasma leptin levels did not differ between dams briefly separated and non-separated from their pups during the postpartum period. On the other hand, both increased locomotion in response to diethylpropion and increased corticosterone secretion in response to acute stress were detected in dams briefly separated from their pups during the first 10 postnatal days. Taken together, these findings suggest that brief, repeated separations from the pups during the neonatal period persistently impact the behavior and induce signs of dopaminergic sensitization in the dam.
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Affiliation(s)
- P P Silveira
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
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