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The supply of glucose to the brain and cognitive functioning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

David Benton ,
Pearl Y. Parker  and
Rachael T. Donohoe
David Benton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP
Pearl Y. Parker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP
Rachael T. Donohoe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Swansea SA2 8PP
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Extract

Unlike other organs the energy requirement of the brain is met almost exclusively by aerobic glucose degradation (Siesjo, 1978). The energy requirement of the brain is 20–30% of the whole organism at rest, although its weight is only 2%. The energy stores in the brain are extremely small when compared with the high rate of glucose utilisation: thus the brain is reliant on a continuous glucose supply. Only about 30% of glucose is required for direct energy production; much of the remainder is used for the synthesis of amino acids, peptides, lipids and nucleic acids (Siebert, Gessner & Klasser, 1986). Thus a source of glucose is essential for the synthesis of physiologically active amines such as serotonin, noradrenaline and acetylcholine. Although it is well accepted that hypoglycaemia can result in the disruption of cognitive functioning, this is a rare phenomenon and it has usually been assumed that levels of blood glucose, within the normal range, do not influence intellectual functioning. This assumption is discussed in this paper.

Type
Session 2: Physical Factors
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 28 , Special Issue 4: Proceedings of the Galton Institute Symposium on Biological and Social Aspects of Intelligence , October 1996 , pp. 463 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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