Neurometabolism "Bends" Before It "Breaks," Providing a Critical Window for Early Intervention.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre 

Brain aging involves multiple degenerative processes, including glucose hypometabolism, atrophy, and cerebrovascular disease. While these manifestations often become detectable only in later stages, neuroimaging-based biomarkers can identify changes decades earlier. Previous research indicates that brain networks undergo substantial reorganization starting in the late 40s, with patterns similar to those observed in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggesting neuronal insulin resistance as a potential mechanism. While glucose is the brain's primary fuel, ketones provide an alternative that can be metabolized by neurons without insulin and thus bypass insulin resistance. This study integrates lifespan brain-aging trajectory, mechanistic, and interventional findings to distinguish earlier catalyzing processes from later downstream effects.