Brain's Role in Weight Control: How Endocannabinoids Could Help Fight Obesity
Endocannabinoids, natural molecules in the brain, play a vital role in regulating food intake and energy use. Researchers at Université de Montréal’s CRCHUM believe that tweaking the action of these molecules could hold the key to combating obesity.
Years of Research on Eating, Activity, and Mood
For years, medical professor Stephanie Fulton and her team have delved into the human nervous system to understand what drives our
- need to eat
- Stay active
- How metabolism impacts mood
Their recent groundbreaking findings in Nature Communications, take this research to new heights.
How Endocannabinoids Affect Weight Control
The study, led by doctoral student David Lau and former postdoctoral fellow Stephanie Tobin, focused on the nucleus accumbens, a brain region rich in endocannabinoids. This area regulates food rewards and physical activity.
One key player in this process is the enzyme ABHD6, which breaks down a crucial endocannabinoid molecule called 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). In earlier research, CRCHUM scientist Marc Prentki found that inhibiting ABHD6 across the body reduced weight and protected against diabetes. This raised a critical question: how does ABHD6 impact appetite and weight when targeted specifically in the brain?
Surprising Findings: Less Food, More Activity
“We anticipated that increasing 2-AG levels would boost food intake by enhancing cannabinoid signalling,” said Fulton. “But to our surprise, deleting the gene for ABHD6 in the nucleus accumbens led to the opposite: mice ate less and showed a greater interest in physical activity.”
The mice in the study chose to spend more time on a running wheel, unlike the control group, which became lethargic and obese. Even more striking, injecting a targeted ABHD6 inhibitor into their brains completely prevented weight gain and obesity.
Why Targeting Specific Brain Pathways Matters
The ability to focus on specific brain pathways to control weight is a game-changer. Interestingly, the effects of ABHD6 inhibition can vary depending on the targeted brain region. For instance,
- Earlier research by Fulton and colleague Thierry Alquier revealed that blocking ABHD6 in the hypothalamus made mice resistant to weight loss.
- However, the latest study shows that inhibiting ABHD6 across the brain reduced weight gain, even on a high-fat diet.
No Anxiety or Depression: A Safer Approach
Unlike previous weight-loss drugs like Rimonabant, which were linked to severe side effects such as depression and suicidal thoughts, this new approach appears safer.
“Our study found no signs of anxiety or depressive behaviour in mice with inhibited ABHD6,” Fulton explained.
A Step Toward Fighting Obesity and Diabetes
This research could pave the way for new therapies to combat
- Obesity
- Metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes
While ABHD6 inhibitors are being developed, it remains to be seen if the mechanisms observed in mice work the same in humans.
The Future of Weight-Loss Therapies
With these exciting findings, scientists are closer than ever to understanding how the brain can help manage weight. By targeting endocannabinoids and enzymes like ABHD6, there’s hope for more effective and safer solutions to tackle obesity and related health challenges.
Source: Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
