Brain Energy Metabolism, Cognitive Function and Down-regulated Oxidative Phosphorylation in Alzheimer Disease

Abstract

Reduced brain glucose utilization in early stages of Alzheimer disease, as measured within vivopositron emission tomography, reflects potentially reversible down-regulation of gene expression for oxidative phosphorylation within neuronal mitochondria. Such down-regulation may occur when neuronal energy demand is first reduced by synaptic dysfunction or loss.