As it happens, Akt doesn't just signal to survival. Akt also signals to translational control. Although it remains to be demonstrated that insulin induces eIF2 phosphorylation and rescues protein synthesis in brain ischemia through Akt, it is certainly a tempting hypothesis. If it turns out to be true, it puts Akt front and center in the fight to salvage neurons--and we've already shown that we have a way to turn it on, right off the shelf.