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Review Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 29;23(7):3785. doi: 10.3390/ijms23073785.

Brain Metabolic Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease

Carlos G Ardanaz 1 2, María J Ramírez 1 2, Maite Solas 1 2

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PMID: 35409145 PMCID: PMC8998942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073785
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Abstract Collections
The brain is one of the most energy-consuming organs in the body. Satisfying such energy demand
requires compartmentalized, cell-specific metabolic processes, known to be complementary and
intimately coupled. Thus, the brain relies on thoroughly orchestrated energy-obtaining agents,
processes and molecular features, such as the neurovascular unit, the astrocyte-neuron metabolic
coupling, and the cellular distribution of energy substrate transporters. Importantly, early features of
the aging process are determined by the progressive perturbation of certain processes responsible for
adequate brain energy supply, resulting in brain hypometabolism. These age-related brain energy
alterations are further worsened during the prodromal stages of neurodegenerative diseases, namely
Alzheimer's disease (AD), preceding the onset of clinical symptoms, and are anatomically and
functionally associated with the loss of cognitive abilities. Here, we focus on concrete neuroenergetic Title & authors
features such as the brain's fueling by glucose and lactate, the transporters and vascular system
guaranteeing its supply, and the metabolic interactions between astrocytes and neurons, and on its Abstract
neurodegenerative-related disruption. We sought to review the principles underlying the metabolic
dimension of healthy and AD brains, and suggest that the integration of these concepts in the Conflict of interest
preventive, diagnostic and treatment strategies for AD is key to improving the precision of these statement
interventions.
Figures
Keywords: GLUTs; astrocyte; astrocyte–neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS); glucose; hypometabolism;
lactate; neurodegeneration.
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The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Figure 1 Different Figure 2 Metabolic Figure 3 Central

metabolic strategies used alterations contribute to contribution of brain
by… Alzheimer’s… energy…

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Review

MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
Astrocytes / metabolism
Brain / metabolism
Humans
Neurons / metabolism

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