Glucose metabolism impairment in major depressive disorder

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder with chronic tendencies that seriously affect regular work, life, and study. However, its exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Patients with MDD experience systemic and localized impairments in glucose metabolism throughout the disease course, disrupting various processes such as glucose uptake, glycoprotein transport, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). These impairments may result from mechanisms including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia-induced damage, oxidative stress, astrocyte abnormalities, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to insufficient energy supply, altered synaptic plasticity, neuronal cell death, and functional and structural damage to reward networks. These mechanical changes contribute to the pathogenesis of MDD and severely interfere with the prognosis. Herein, we summarized the impairment of glucose metabolism and its pathophysiological mechanisms in patients with MDD. In addition, we briefly discussed potential pharmacological interventions for glucose metabolism to alleviate MDD, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, metformin, topical insulin, liraglutide, and pioglitazone, to encourage the development of new therapeutics.

Keywords: Brain glucose metabolism; Depression; Inadequate energy supply; Insulin resistance; Oxidative stress.