The link between brain energy homeostasis and neuronal activity
The brain is an extremely energy consuming part of the body, which makes it dangerously vulnerable to metabolic stress. It’s no wonder then that abnormalities of brain energy metabolism are becoming the usual suspects and a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. The socioeconomic burden of these alone begs for urgent measures to be taken for better understanding both fundamental and applied problems of neuroenergetics and neuroprotection. For instance, brain imaging reveals that the diseased brains of Alzheimer’s patients cannot efficiently utilize the vital brain fuel, glucose. The resulting energy deficit causes neuronal hyperactivity, seizures and cognitive impairments. Administ...