Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―American Ukrainian Forum of Science and Education‖ (April 13-15, 2026) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – New York, USA, 2026. - 235 p.

180 UDC 616.379-008.64:612.82 Siemierenko Tetiana Viktorivna Ph.D. in Biological Sciences associate professor of the Physiology Department Tsurkalenko Valeria Andriivna Second-year student of the Medical Faculty Dnipro State Medical University Dnipro, Ukraine PECULIARITIES OF THE INSULIN RESISTANCE IMPACT ON THE BRAIN Abstract. Insulin resistance is a systemic metabolic disorder that affects not only peripheral tissues but also the functioning of the central nervous system. In the brain insulin is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, synaptic plasticity, cognitive processes and neurotransmission, particularly the dopaminergic system. Disruption of insulin signaling leads to dysfunction of intracellular pathways, reduced neuronal glucose utilization, energy deficiency and impaired cognitive function. Clinical and neuroimaging data indicate that insulin resistance is associated with decreased cerebral glucose metabolism as well as impairments in working memory and cognitive processing speed. In addition to metabolic effects, insulin resistance contributes to neurodegenerative processes through increased oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, β-amyloid accumulation, and tau protein hyperphosphorylation. Together, these mechanisms confirm the role of insulin resistance as a key pathogenetic factor linking metabolic disorders with cognitive decline and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Keywords: insulin resistance, brain, cognitive functions, glucose metabolism, neuroplasticity, dopaminergic system, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cerebral hypometabolism.