Energy demand is not only an issue in Artificial Intelligence or when talking about the environment. Energy also plays a very important role when we talk about human health.
Energy consumption is highly relevant in obesity, but also in chronic brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s the use of energy has gained a lot of attention.
Here is why: Our chart shows that our brain only makes up 2% of body mass, while it amazingly consumes 20% of energy; or in other words 1 gram brain needs 10x more energy than 1 gram of muscle.
In Alzheimer patients, brain cells must function under huge stress. Plaques are being formed between cells, sticky filaments are accumulating within the cells and chronic inflammation is putting additional pressure on the brain. Researchers think that supporting the energy supply to brain cells can help them survive and function much longer. Many trials are under way to test this approach.
We think in the future this could become an important pillar for combination therapies in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
