New unexpected cause of diabetes development found

Sensational discovery: scientists from the University of Washington revealed a new mechanism for the development of type 2 diabetes. The study, published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), showed that hyperactive AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus may be a key factor in the onset of the disease.

The scientific team came to an unexpected conclusion: increased activity of these neurons may play a more important role in the development of diabetes than excess weight and insulin dysfunction, which were traditionally considered the main culprits.

Until recently, the medical community was convinced that type 2 diabetes occurs mainly due to insulin resistance - a condition where the body's cells are not sufficiently sensitive to insulin. It was believed that numerous factors influence the development of this condition: diet, lifestyle, level of physical activity, age-related changes, pregnancy, and puberty. However, the new research forces a reconsideration of this established theory.

As part of the experiment, researchers applied a revolutionary method: using a viral gene, they blocked signals from AgRP neurons in mice with diabetes. The results exceeded all expectations - the blood glucose level of the experimental animals returned to normal, without any changes in body weight and feeding behavior of the rodents. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding that diabetes develops primarily due to obesity and insulin resistance.

Scientists note a curious fact: some modern anti-diabetic drugs, including the widely known Ozempic, also affect these neurons, although the mechanism of such influence remains insufficiently studied. In their future plans, researchers aim to establish the causes of AgRP neuron hyperactivity and develop safe ways to regulate their activity.