SPEAKER:
Dr. Stephen Cunnane studies the implications of deteriorating brain fuel metabolism during aging for aging-associated cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. His team was the first to conduct PET studies of brain ketone and glucose uptake that led to their concept of brain energy rescue with ketones. They are developing keto-neurotherapeutic strategies to slow down Alzheimer’s disease that may be applicable in other disorders involving metabolic dysregulation in the brain. Dr. Cunnane has published over 350 research papers and five books, two of which highlight the key role of ketones in human brain evolution. He was elected to the French National Academy of Medicine in 2009. In 2016, he was honored as one of the founding Fellows of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL). He received the Chevreul Medal from the French Society for the Study of Lipids in 2017 for outstanding research on omega-3 fatty acids and ketones.
overview:
Brain uptake of its main fuel, glucose, deteriorates with the onset of both Alzheimer (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD). In a key observation confirmed by other groups, we demonstrated that brain uptake of ketones, its main alternative fuel, remains normal in AD and PD. This has led to attempts to improve the symptoms of AD and PD with ketogenic interventions.
learning objectives:
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
1) Better understand the role of brain energetics in healthy brain aging
2) Better understand the potential role of ketones in mitigating the risk and progression of AD and PD