Friday seminar – Jeff Glennon

Venue: Centre Broca

Jeff Glennon
University college Dublin
https://people.ucd.ie/jeffrey.glennon

Invited by Marc Landry (IMN)

Title

The sweet side of attention and compulsive behaviour, an immunometabolic nexus regulated by K+ channels.

Abstract

Attention problems, impulse control and compulsive behaviour are key behavioural elements common across both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Building on large genetic data sets, we ascertained that dysregulated insulin signaling leading to inflammatory challenges may be a converging mechanism. This has impacts on immunometabolic control and the proteome with K+ channels playing an important modulatory role. Within this presentation, I will expand on our current mechanistic understanding and highlight novel strategies in modulating compulsivity and attention.

Relevant publications:

1) Insulin and disorders of behavioural flexibility. Sullivan M, et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023. PMID: 37059405
2) Converging evidence points towards a role of insulin signaling in regulating compulsive behavior. van de Vondervoort IIGM, et al. Transl Psychiatry. 2019. PMID: 31515486
3) An integrated molecular landscape implicates the regulation of dendritic spine formation through insulin-related signalling in obsessive-compulsive disorder. van de Vondervoort I, et al. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2016. PMID: 26854754
4) Plasma neurology-related proteins associated with cognition are modulated by lifestyle in adults. Margara-Escudero HJ, et al. EBioMedicine. 2025. PMID: 40972225
5) Noradrenergic activation of the basolateral amygdala facilitates memory specificity for similar events experienced close in time. Atucha E, et al. Nat Neurosci. 2025. PMID: 40702323
6) Insulin Signaling as a Key Moderator in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Nieuwenhuis S, et al. Front Neurol. 2019. PMID: 31849810
7) Blood Transcriptome Profiling Links Immunity to Disease Severity in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1). Nieuwenhuis S, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2022. PMID: 35328504

Friday seminars are organized with the support of Bordeaux Neurocampus