Ketones, omega-3 fatty acids and the Yin-Yang balance in the brain: insights from infant development and Alzheimer’s disease, and implications for human brain evolution

摘要: Optimal brain performance is intimately linked to the brain’s Yin and Yang − balance between its structure energy metabolism. This relationship clearly exemplified in infant development Alzheimer’s disease, probably also applies human evolution. In these examples, redundant pathways help achieve this important balance. For instance, key structural lipid for brain, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), supplied from at last three overlapping sources: (i) milk; (ii) infant’s own fat stores (iii) by some endogenous synthesis α-linolenic (ALA) or eicosapentaenoic (EPA). On side, glucose normally main fuel but under conditions of prolonged starvation, it can be almost totally replaced ketone bodies, acetoacetate β-hydroxybutyrate. When ketones are present blood they spare uptake because actually preferred essential normal development. The sources long chain fatty acids (including relatively ketogenic ALA) stores, medium triglycerides (MCT) milk. Besides infancy, nowhere strain on yin yang more apparent than disease (AD). One reasons why attempts treat AD have largely failed could well chronically inadequate supply areas order 10% people risk before cognitive decline begins. However, still even moderately advanced AD. Hence, treatments that ignore (glucose) deficit would predicted fail, attempt rescue availability via a better chance succeeding. By analogy sparing metabolism, perhaps ALA EPA entering (conserve) DHA role. If so, not necessarily futile transport into just β-oxidize majority afterwards; as production beneficiaries.