Journal Flags Image Concerns in 2012 Diabetes Drug Neurogenesis Study

BMC Neuroscience has issued an editorial expression of concern over a 2012 paper reporting that the diabetes drugs liraglutide and lixisenatide cross the blood-brain barrier and enhance neurogenesis. The notice, published on 29 October 2026 as Volume 27, article number 53, was authored by Kerry Hunter and Christian Hölscher.

According to the editorial, the concern centres on similar images in the article. Specifically, a micrograph in Figure 2 of the paper appears to overlap with a previously published image, Figure 4K, which the journal cited in its notice.

The Editor stated that the notice was intended to alert readers to these concerns and advised that the results of the article be interpreted with caution. The publisher noted that Christian Hölscher did not explicitly state whether or not they agree with the editorial expression of concern, and that the publisher was unable to contact Kerry Hunter.

The original article was published on 23 March 2012, and the notice is open access, allowing readers to consult the full statement alongside the paper.

Subject of Research: An editorial expression of concern regarding image overlap in a 2012 study of liraglutide and lixisenatide

Article Title: Editorial Expression of Concern: Drugs developed to treat diabetes, liraglutide and lixisenatide, cross the blood brain barrier and enhance neurogenesis

Article References: Hunter, K., & Hölscher, C. (2026). Editorial Expression of Concern: Drugs developed to treat diabetes, liraglutide and lixisenatide, cross the blood brain barrier and enhance neurogenesis. BMC Neuroscience, 27(1), Article 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-026-01068-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12868-026-01068-5

Keywords: editorial expression of concern, BMC Neuroscience, liraglutide, lixisenatide, blood-brain barrier, neurogenesis, image overlap, research integrity, Figure 2, micrograph, 2012 study, open access