Neurometabolism 101
Professor of Neurobiology
Harvard Medical SchoolYour brain is a very energy demanding organ: it only accounts for 2% of your body weight but consumes about 20% of your daily energy. All of this energy comes from a continual supply of metabolic fuel, which includes glucose but also other energy-rich molecules, and the details turn out to be important for brain function. Many people who experience epileptic seizures do not respond to any medications, but they can be treated with a change in diet that produces a change in the fuel mix used by the brain. I’ll discuss our understanding of this and other puzzles in brain metabolism.
Harvard Medical SchoolYour brain is a very energy demanding organ: it only accounts for 2% of your body weight but consumes about 20% of your daily energy. All of this energy comes from a continual supply of metabolic fuel, which includes glucose but also other energy-rich molecules, and the details turn out to be important for brain function. Many people who experience epileptic seizures do not respond to any medications, but they can be treated with a change in diet that produces a change in the fuel mix used by the brain. I’ll discuss our understanding of this and other puzzles in brain metabolism.
Free and open to the public. Coffee and snacks will be served. We encourage all those who are able to join us in-person! However, if you can’t attend in person, a Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
A small group lunch with the speaker will follow this event. This lunch will be open to Harvard students and fellows. Please let us know when registering if you are interested in attending. Spaces are limited, so please request a spot by March 27th. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Questions? Email us at info@brain.harvard.edu.