AKT1 and brain ischemia: By activating AKT, insulin suppresses the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, thereby preventing the translocation of the proapoptotic protein BAX to them [177,178], and also stimulates synthesis of neuroprotective proteins, including the antioxidant enzymes [179,180], which increases the survival of neurons and prevents cognitive dysfunctions in animals with cerebral ischemia [178].