Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance has been studied in 20 papers since 2017: 18 observational studies in people, 2 reviews; 10 in the past year. The newest paper, Sep 8, 2026: “Divergent genetic mediator signatures of adiposity-related metabolic liabilities and coronary artery disease”.
Research on it is growing 44% faster than aging research as a whole: 229 papers in the latest year counted
See all 20 papers on insulin resistance
At a glance
Independent labs found the same change in people. 12 independent labs in 7 countries.
“Higher HOMA-IR was associated with 2.64-fold greater odds of sarcopenia (95%CI:2.25-3.10,p < 0.001).”
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 12 independent labs in 7 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: Turun Yliopistollinen Keskussairaala and others
- Humans18
What did studies of insulin resistance find?
6Studies of insulin resistance measured 6 outcomes, among them global longitudinal strain, hip and vertebral fractures and [11C]PIB-PET SUVr 5-year change.
Global longitudinal strain
downin humans1
1 study
Global longitudinal strain
downin humans1
Insulin resistance is linked with lower global longitudinal strain in humans (Q4 vs. Q1) (MD -1.58 percentage points (95% CI: -2.22 to -0.93)).
“The random-effects pooled MD in GLS (Q4 vs. Q1) was -1.58 percentage points (95% CI: -2.22 to -0.93), indicating a lower strain magnitude (worse subclinical systolic function) in the highest IR group.”
HumansQ4 vs. Q1left ventricle
Reviews in cardiovascular medicine
Hip and vertebral fractures
no changein humans1
1 study
Hip and vertebral fractures
no changein humans1
Insulin resistance was not clearly linked with hip and vertebral fractures in humans (HOMA-IR and TyG index quartiles).
“No associations were found for hip or vertebral fractures”
HumansHOMA-IR and TyG index quartilesmean follow-up 12.2-13.6 yearsmalesn = 5,994
Journal of the Endocrine Society
[11C]PIB-PET SUVr 5-year change
upin humans1
1 study
[11C]PIB-PET SUVr 5-year change
upin humans1
Insulin resistance is linked with higher [11C]PIB-PET SUVr 5-year change in humans (combined with APOEε4 carriage) (median change 0.8 vs 0.28, p = 0.02).
“the change was significantly higher in IR+/APOEε4+ group (median change 0.8 (0.60-1.0)) than in IR-/APOEε4- (0.28 (0.14-0.47), p = 0.02)”
Humanscombined with APOEε4 carriagebrain5-year follow-up
Neurobiology of disease
[11C]PIB-PET composite SUVr
upin humans1
1 study
[11C]PIB-PET composite SUVr
upin humans1
Insulin resistance is linked with higher [11C]PIB-PET composite SUVr in humans (median 2.3 vs 1.7, p = 0.03).
“At late-life follow-up, [11C]PIB-PET composite SUVr was significantly higher in IR+ group than IR- group (median 2.3 (interquartile range 1.7-3.3) vs. 1.7 (1.5-2.4), p = 0.03).”
Humansbrain
Neurobiology of disease
Executive function
no changein humans1
1 study
Executive function
no changein humans1
Insulin resistance was not clearly linked with executive function in the diabetes group.
“but not with insulin resistance markers in the diabetes group”
Humansin the diabetes group10.6 yearsn = 2,377
Diabetes, obesity & metabolism
Amyloid-positive PET scan
upin humans1OR 3
1 study
Amyloid-positive PET scan
upin humans1OR 3
Insulin resistance is linked with higher amyloid-positive PET scan in humans (highest vs lowest midlife HOMA-IR tertile; 15-year follow-up) (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1-8.9; 60.0% vs 33.3% amyloid-positive).
“An amyloid-positive PET scan was found in 33.3% of the IR- group and 60.0% of the IR+ group (odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1-8.9, p = 0.04).”
Humanshighest vs lowest midlife HOMA-IR tertile; 15-year follow-upbrain15 yearsn = 60
Midlife insulin resistance, APOE genotype, and late-life brain amyloid accumulation
Neurology
What is insulin resistance linked with?
12Studies link insulin resistance with 12 measures, most often Alzheimer's disease (3 studies).
Alzheimer's disease
upin humans2downin humans1HR 1.23
3 studies
Alzheimer's disease
upin humans2downin humans1HR 1.23
Insulin resistance is associated with Alzheimer's disease in humans (pooled hazard ratio across prospective cohort studies) (HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.01-1.50)).
“and Alzheimer's disease (HR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.50, 7 studies included)”
Humanspooled hazard ratio across prospective cohort studies
BMC neurology
Insulin resistance is linked with a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease in humans (genetically predicted, instruments from fasting insulin SNPs) (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23).
“and AD (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23, p = 0.004 using fasting insulin”
Humansgenetically predicted, instruments from fasting insulin SNPs
European journal of neurology
Insulin resistance is linked with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in humans (measured by McAuley and HOMA indices).
“IR was associated with decreased odds of AD and dementia using both IR indices.”
Humansmeasured by McAuley and HOMA indicesmalesn = 1,544
Journal of the neurological sciences
Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction
upin humans1OR 1.36
1 study
Subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction
upin humans1OR 1.36
Insulin resistance is linked with a higher risk of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in humans (per unit increase in IR index) (OR 1.36 (95% CI: 1.20 to 1.53)).
“The pooled OR per unit increase in the IR index was 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20 to 1.53; I2 = 0%).”
Humansper unit increase in IR indexleft ventricle
Reviews in cardiovascular medicine
Vascular dementia
upin humans1HR 1.04
1 study
Vascular dementia
upin humans1HR 1.04
Insulin resistance is associated with vascular dementia in humans (pooled hazard ratio across prospective cohort studies) (HR 1.04 (95% CI 1.01-1.07)).
“A similar association was observed between insulin resistance and the risk of vascular dementia (HR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, 4 studies included).”
Humanspooled hazard ratio across prospective cohort studies
BMC neurology
All-cause dementia
upin humans1HR 1.11
1 study
All-cause dementia
upin humans1HR 1.11
Insulin resistance is associated with all-cause dementia in humans (pooled hazard ratio across prospective cohort studies) (HR 1.11 (95% CI 1.03-1.21)).
“Insulin resistance was associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (HR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.21, 9 studies included)”
Humanspooled hazard ratio across prospective cohort studies
BMC neurology
Skeletal muscle index
downin humans1
1 study
Skeletal muscle index
downin humans1
Insulin resistance is associated with skeletal muscle index in humans.
“Mean SMI decreased progressively across HOMA-IR quartiles.”
Humansskeletal muscle
Journal of endocrinological investigation
Sarcopenia
upin humans1OR 2.64
1 study
Sarcopenia
upin humans1OR 2.64
Insulin resistance is associated with sarcopenia in humans (OR 2.64 (95% CI 2.25–3.10)).
“Higher HOMA-IR was associated with 2.64-fold greater odds of sarcopenia (95%CI:2.25-3.10,p < 0.001).”
Humans
Journal of endocrinological investigation
Bone mineral density change rate
upin humans1
1 study
Bone mineral density change rate
upin humans1
Insulin resistance is associated with bone mineral density change rate in humans (premenopause; average log2HOMA-IR less than 1.5) (0.0032 g/cm2 per year slower BMD loss per doubling of average HOMA-IR (P = 0.01, LS)).
“When average log2HOMA-IR was less than 1.5, greater HOMA-IR was associated with slower BMD decline”
Humanspremenopause; average log2HOMA-IR less than 1.5lumbar spinefemalesn = 861
Longitudinal associations of insulin resistance with change in bone mineral density in midlife women
JCI insight
Small vessel stroke
upin humans1OR 1.23
1 study
Small vessel stroke
upin humans1OR 1.23
Insulin resistance is linked with a higher risk of small vessel stroke in humans (genetically predicted, instruments from fasting insulin SNPs) (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.44).
“Genetically predicted higher insulin resistance had a higher odds ratio (OR) of small vessel stroke (OR 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.44, p = 0.01 using fasting insulin”
Humansgenetically predicted, instruments from fasting insulin SNPs
European journal of neurology
Brain amyloid burden
upin humans1
1 study
Brain amyloid burden
upin humans1
Insulin resistance is associated with brain amyloid burden in humans (continuous midlife HOMA-IR, adjusted for other cognitive and metabolic risk factors) (β = 0.11, 95% CI 0.002-0.22).
“Higher midlife, but not late-life continuous HOMA-IR was associated with a greater brain amyloid burden at follow-up after multivariate adjustments”
Humanscontinuous midlife HOMA-IR, adjusted for other cognitive and metabolic risk factorsbrain15 yearsn = 60
Midlife insulin resistance, APOE genotype, and late-life brain amyloid accumulation
Neurology
Cognitive function
downin humans1
1 study
Cognitive function
downin humans1
Insulin resistance is associated with cognitive function in humans (B = -0.201, p = 0.002).
“increased insulin resistance was significantly correlated with decreased cognitive function”
Humanspercent change in K-MMSE scores, after multivariable adjustment; normal baseline cognitive functionmean follow-up 5.9 yearsn = 422
Scientific reports
All 12Fewer
Funding
68 grants since 2016National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases$18.5MNational Institute on Aging$12.4MJapan Society for the Promotion of Science¥67.2M
American Heart AssociationVanderbilt University$70.7K2026–2027
Efficacy of Oral Device Therapy for Insulin Resistance in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceInstitute of Science Tokyo¥4.7M2025–2028
Study of age-related insulin resistance and dysfunction in brown adipose tissue
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceKumamoto University¥6.5M2025–2028
American Heart AssociationUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center$69.5K2025–2026
Compensating for insulin resistance with an insulin receptive genetic circuit
American Heart AssociationCentral Michigan University$200K2025–2026
Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health ResearchUniversity of TorontoCA$27K2024–2025
American Heart AssociationUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School$67.4K2024–2025
Zmat3 induces cell senescence, insulin resistance and NAFLD/NASH
Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance in Man
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham$654K1982–2025
Early detection of insulin-resistance with a mixed meal challenge - The REFINE study
Department of Health, Australian GovernmentDeakin UniversityA$1.5M2023–2026