SGK1 and brain ischemia: Inhibition of AKT and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) increases apoptosis, but PI3K/AKT-mediated up-regulation of SGK1 reverses this trend and prevents apoptosis (Cong et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014), which has a positive effect on cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurological diseases.