New research from the AIBN has revealed that neurons in the brain use fats for energy, challenging decades of scientific thinking and opening the door to new treatments for neurological disease.
I did suspect that, being a Physiologist. Such high energy consumer tissue relying solely on glucose would be counterintuitive. However brain cannot consume fat as main source, unlike cardiac tissue.
I was wondering, “why not glycogen”, then just read up and realised the difference in energy density.
And I guess, neurons don’t have high intensity intermittent usage as much as muscles do, which is why fat is more suitable?
Then what about the PNS?
Could it perhaps be that some motor nerves connected to the muscles might use glycogen, or would you expect all of them to be mainly fat users?
Just looking for your speculations here too, as there’s probably not enough research for that either.
No no. Glucose is best for neurons. Fat is prob just a secondary source. The cost (like tax) of using fat us high - more metabolism, more O2 utilisation. And it should be same for all neurons.
BTW brain does have a small amount of glycogen storage, by astrocytes. But energy density, as you said, is less efficient I think.
I did suspect that, being a Physiologist. Such high energy consumer tissue relying solely on glucose would be counterintuitive. However brain cannot consume fat as main source, unlike cardiac tissue.
I was wondering, “why not glycogen”, then just read up and realised the difference in energy density.
And I guess, neurons don’t have high intensity intermittent usage as much as muscles do, which is why fat is more suitable?
Then what about the PNS?
Could it perhaps be that some motor nerves connected to the muscles might use glycogen, or would you expect all of them to be mainly fat users?
Just looking for your speculations here too, as there’s probably not enough research for that either.
No no. Glucose is best for neurons. Fat is prob just a secondary source. The cost (like tax) of using fat us high - more metabolism, more O2 utilisation. And it should be same for all neurons.
BTW brain does have a small amount of glycogen storage, by astrocytes. But energy density, as you said, is less efficient I think.