What is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system.
Composed by billions of neurons intimately connected to each other and to other cells in our bodies, the nervous system is an incredibly complex and fascinating system that is involved in the regulation of virtually every single action in the human body and is at the base of who we are and what we do.
The brain is the major organ of the nervous system.
The brain is at the core of our movement and all our thoughts. It is the command center behind the hand extension to grab a glass of water and behind the repeated effortful strides that propel athletes forward. The brain is the command center behind thirstiness and behind our desire to cross the finish line.
It is where our memories are stored and our emotions are processed. The brain is where our sense of self is.
Neuroscience helps us understand brain function in health and disease and can equip us with knowledge to devise strategies to boost our healthspan and well-being.
Are glucose and insulin important for brain function?
The brain is an energy-hungry organ. Although making up just 2% of our body mass, the brain is responsible for 20% of the total energy expenditure of our bodies at rest.
Neurons depend almost exclusively on glucose as their primary energy source. However, unlike muscle cells, the uptake of glucose into neurons does not require insulin.
This doesn’t mean that insulin is not important for brain function. In fact, it is now well-established that insulin signaling in the brain plays important roles in regulating human metabolism, and brain insulin resistance can impair mood and cognition.
Brain health is intimately tied to proper glycemic control and insulin signaling.
How does diabetes affect brain function?
Because there are no significant glycogen stores in the brain, neurons critically rely on circulating glucose levels to be properly fueled. This renders neurons highly susceptible to both low and high levels of blood glucose, like the ones found during hypo- and hyperglycemic states experienced by people with diabetes.
If left untreated, severe hypoglycemia can result in seizures, unconsciousness, brain damage, and death in a matter of minutes to a few hours.
The neurological consequences of persistent hyperglycemia take longer to develop but are highly debilitating, nonetheless. These include some of the most common diabetes-related complications associated with poor glycemic control, such as retinopathy and loss of eyesight, and neuropathy and the loss of sensation.
Additionally, poor glycemic control linked to diabetes is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increased risk of developing neurodegenerative disease.