Tweaking energy metabolism to prevent and treat neurological disorders.

Accumulating data from epidemiological and clinical studies, and from animal models, point to pivotal roles for disordered behavioral and neuroendocrine control of energy metabolism in the pathogenesis of several major neurodegenerative disorders. Particularly troubling is the mounting evidence that excessive dietary energy intake and a sedentary lifestyle render the brain vulnerable not only to stroke, but also to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which energy intake and expenditure affect neuronal vulnerability are leading to novel therapeutic interventions that increase the durability and resiliency of the brain during aging.