# Effect of Insulin on Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Rehabilitation

> **NIH NIH P20** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2020 · $201,831

## Abstract

There is a fundamental gap in understanding the importance of brain insulin levels in stroke recovery. This gap
is important because of the significance of brain insulin with regard to neuroplasticity and the anti-inflammatory,
anti-thrombotic, vasodilatory and anti-apoptotic properties of insulin, which play a vital role in recovery from brain
injury. The long-term goal is to understand the role of comorbidities on brain health, specifically cognitive aging.
The objective of this application is to investigate the role of reduced brain insulin and the therapeutic potential of
intranasal insulin on long-term stroke recovery (4 months post-stroke). Insulin resistance, which is a common
comorbidity among stroke survivors, leads to a deficiency of insulin in the brain. The central hypothesis is that
increasing brain insulin levels will improve stroke recovery. This hypothesis is based on preliminary data
produced in the applicant’s laboratory. The rationale for the proposed research is that brain insulin levels affect
neuroplasticity, and intranasal insulin may offer a new therapeutic approach to improve recovery from stroke.
This hypothesis will be tested by pursuing two specific aims: 1) Determine the impact of insulin deficiency in the
brain on stroke recovery, and 2) Ascertain the therapeutic potential of intranasal insulin therapy on stroke
recovery. Under Aim 1, stroke recovery (cognitive, sensorimotor and motor function) is assessed in a comorbid
mouse model (high-fat diet) with brain insulin deficiency, and in a non-comorbid mouse model (standard diet)
treated with intranasal insulin affibody molecules, which reduce brain insulin levels, following an ischemic stroke.
Under the second aim, intranasal insulin therapy is implemented post-stroke to enhance rehabilitation-induced
neuroplasticity and improve stroke recovery. The approach is innovative, because it utilizes a comorbid animal
model of ischemic stroke, assesses long-term stroke recovery up to 4 months post-stroke, and uses intranasal
insulin as a therapy to enhance neuroplasticity and improve stroke recovery. The proposed research is significant
because it is expected to lead to the establishment of intranasal insulin as a potential therapy to enhance stroke
recovery. Ultimately, the COBRE also will provide the unique opportunity to work with clinical investigators to
translate this basic science research into the clinic.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9904720
- **Project number:** 5P20GM109040-07
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Catrina Sims Robinson
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $201,831
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-06-02 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9904720

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9904720, Effect of Insulin on Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Rehabilitation (5P20GM109040-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9904720. Licensed CC0.

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