Neural energy sustenance is the physiological process dedicated to maintaining a continuous, adequate, and stable supply of metabolic fuel, primarily glucose and ketones, to the central nervous system to support uninterrupted neuronal function. This sustenance is crucial for all cognitive processes, from basic sensory processing to complex executive function, and is particularly vulnerable to systemic metabolic dysfunction or hormonal imbalances. Optimized neural energy sustenance is a prerequisite for high cognitive performance and neuroprotection.
Origin
This concept is fundamentally rooted in neurobiology and metabolic physiology, recognizing the brain’s disproportionately high energy demand relative to its mass, consuming about 20% of the body’s total oxygen and glucose. Its relevance in hormonal health stems from the direct influence of hormones like insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones on cerebral glucose uptake and mitochondrial respiration. Sustenance emphasizes the protective role of metabolic stability for long-term brain health.
Mechanism
The mechanism involves tightly regulated cerebral blood flow, which ensures oxygen and glucose delivery across the blood-brain barrier, a process modulated by endothelial function and nitric oxide signaling. Hormonally, insulin sensitivity in the brain is critical for neuronal glucose uptake, while a balanced HPA axis prevents chronic cortisol exposure that can impair hippocampal energy metabolism. The capacity for utilizing alternative fuels, like ketones, provides a metabolic buffer during periods of glucose scarcity or metabolic stress.
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