Considering the hypothesis that an increased peripheral inflammatory environment may impair BBB permeability, contributing to glial reactivity, and consequently to memory decline, through neuroinflammatory mechanisms12, we decided to investigate whether obesity induced by HSB diet could modulate serum leptin levels, likewise the pattern of peripheral and hippocampal pro-inflammatory cytokines, microglial and astrocyte reactivity, as well as the expression of proteins associated with BBB integrity (Figs. 3A and 6A). The gene discussed is LEP; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.