A new discovery reveals that astrocytes, star-shaped cells in the brain, play a key role in regulating fat metabolism and obesity. These cells act on a cluster of neurons, known as the GABRA5 cluster, effectively acting as a “switch” for weight regulation.
The MAO-B enzyme in these astrocytes was identified as a target for obesity treatment, influencing GABA secretion and thus weight regulation.
KDS2010, a selective and reversible MAO-B inhibitor, successfully led to weight loss in obese mice without impacting their food intake, even while consuming a high-fat diet, and is now in Phase 1 clinical trials.
I gained a lot of weight while I had cancer but before I was diagnosed, probably from the physiological stress the cancer was putting on me. My eating patterns were unchanged. Then I gained still more during chemo even though it was hard to eat, probably from the steroids being pumped into me. Lost 60 lbs after treatment even though I was eating much more every day at that point.
Bodies are weird, man!