Brain energy rescue: an emerging therapeutic concept for neurodegenerative disorders of ageing

Stephen C. Cunnane, Eugenia Trushina, Cecilie Morland, Alessandro Prigione, Gemma Casadesus, Zane B. Andrews, M. Flint Beal, Linda H. Bergersen, Roberta D. Brinton, Suzanne de la Monte, Anne Eckert, Jenni Harvey, Ross Jeggo, Jack H. Jhamandas, Oliver Kann, Clothide Mannoury la Cour, William F. Martin, Gilles Mithieux, Paula I. Moreira, Michael P. MurphyKlaus Armin Nave, Tal Nuriel, Stéphane H.R. Oliet, Frédéric Saudou, Mark P. Mattson, Russell H. Swerdlow, Mark J. Millan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

The brain requires a continuous supply of energy in the form of ATP, most of which is produced from glucose by oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, complemented by aerobic glycolysis in the cytoplasm. When glucose levels are limited, ketone bodies generated in the liver and lactate derived from exercising skeletal muscle can also become important energy substrates for the brain. In neurodegenerative disorders of ageing, brain glucose metabolism deteriorates in a progressive, region-specific and disease-specific manner — a problem that is best characterized in Alzheimer disease, where it begins presymptomatically. This Review discusses the status and prospects of therapeutic strategies for countering neurodegenerative disorders of ageing by improving, preserving or rescuing brain energetics. The approaches described include restoring oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, increasing insulin sensitivity, correcting mitochondrial dysfunction, ketone-based interventions, acting via hormones that modulate cerebral energetics, RNA therapeutics and complementary multimodal lifestyle changes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)609-633
Number of pages25
JournalNature Reviews Drug Discovery
Volume19
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery

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