Insulin resistance is emerging as an early metabolic risk marker in youth with mood disorders. In this Comment, we examine the interplay of insulin resistance, inflammation and circadian disruption that worsens both metabolic symptoms and mood symptoms, highlighting the potential for early integrated interventions.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a philanthropic donation to M.S. from families affected by mental illness, who would like to remain anonymous; by a National Health and Medical Research Council Synergy Grant (2019260) and National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grants to J.J.C. (2008196), N.R.W. (1173790) and I.B.H. (2016346); and by grants from the US National Institutes of Health (R01AG078241) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Hallas-Møller Ascending Investigator Grant no. 0087882) to F.G. We thank Joanne S. Carpenter (Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney) for drafting the original version of the figure.
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M.S., I.B.H. and F.G. conceived the idea for this Comment. M.S. wrote the first draft and further refined the figure. I.B.H. and F.G. provided critical input and editing. J.J.C., M.W., N.R.W. and F.G. contributed to refining the figure and content. All authors contributed to manuscript revisions and approved the final version.
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I.B.H. is co-director, health and policy, at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Australia, which operates an early-intervention youth services at Camperdown under contract to headspace. He has previously led community-based projects and pharmaceutical industry–supported projects (Wyeth, Eli Lily, Servier, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Janssen Cilag) focused on the identification and better management of anxiety and depression. He is the chief scientific advisor to and is a 3.2% equity shareholder in InnoWell, which aims to transform mental health services through the use of innovative technologies.
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Nature Mental Health thanks Riccardo De Giorgi, Marie Pierre Moisan and the other, anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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Shin, M., Crouse, J.J., Weger, M. et al. Insulin resistance as an early marker in youth with mood disorders. Nat. Mental Health 3, 969–971 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00472-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00472-w
