Cited by 101Sleep and Wakefulness ResearchCircadian rhythm and melatoninNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Cerebral Metabolic Changes During Sleep

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Aalling, Nadia Nielsen, Nedergaard, Maiken, DiNuzzo, Mauro·2018·Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports

Abstract

Purpose of review The goal of the present paper is to review current literature supporting the occurrence of fundamental changes in brain energy metabolism during the transition from wakefulness to sleep.Recent findings Latest research in the field indicates that glucose utilization and the concentrations of several brain metabolites consistently change across the sleep-wake cycle. Lactate, a product of glycolysis that is involved in synaptic plasticity, has emerged as a good biomarker of brain state. Sleep-induced changes in cerebral metabolite levels result from a shift in oxidative metabolism, which alters the reliance of brain metabolism upon carbohydrates. We found wide support for the notion that brain energetics is state dependent. In particular, fatty acids and ketone bodies partly replace glucose as cerebral energy source during sleep. This mechanism plausibly accounts for increases in biosynthetic pathways and functional alterations in neuronal activity associated with sleep. A better account of brain energy metabolism during sleep might help elucidate the long mysterious restorative effects of sleep for the whole organism.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s11910-018-0868-9

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  • Elevated brain lactate and glutamate levels are associated with wakefulness and memory formation, which naturally require the processing of incoming sensory stimuli.

    “Elevated brain lactate and glutamate levels are associated with wakefulness and memory formation, which naturally require the processing of incoming sensory stimuli”

    From Perception is associated with the brain’s metabolic response to sensory stimulation (2022) · cites this paper as Aalling et al., 2018

    The Carbohydrates section (page unavailable) links higher lactate production during waking to sensory or cognitive stimulation and describes aerobic glycolysis as a correlate of learning and memory. The Ketone bodies section reports that cortical extracellular glutamate rises at the onset of wakefulness, but also during REM sleep. The paper does not establish that elevated glutamate levels are associated with memory formation or that memory formation necessarily requires incoming sensory stimuli. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [26]Clarke DD, Sokoloff L. Basic Neurochemistry. In: Siegel GJ, Agranoff BW, Fisher RW, Uhler MD, editors.: Lippincott Williams \& Wilkins, Philadelphia; 1999.
  2. [150]Franck G, Salmon E, Poirrier R, Sadzot B, Franco G. [Study of regional cerebral glucose metabolism, in man, while awake or asleep, by positron emission tomography]. Revue d’electroencephalographie et de neurophysiologie clinique. 1987; 17(1): 71– 7. 3495831

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Authors
Aalling, N. N., Nedergaard, M., & DiNuzzo, M.
Affiliations
University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
DiNuzzo, Mauro
Venue
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
Published
2018-07-16
Volume
18
Issue
9
Pages
57-57
ISSN
  • 1528-4042 (ISSN-L)
  • 1534-6293
OpenAlex
W2884295860
Cited by
101
References
160
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1
FWCI
1.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • European Commission
  • Lundbeckfonden (R155-2016–552, R180-2014-4003)
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF13OC0004258)
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • National Institute on Aging (RF1AG057575, R01AG048769)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (RF1NS110049, R01NS100366)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
brain energy metabolism, sleep, sleep-wake cycle, glucose utilization, lactate, brain metabolites, oxidative metabolism, ketone bodies, fatty acids, glycolysis, synaptic plasticity
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Energy Metabolism, Glucose, Humans, Neurons, Sleep Stages, Wakefulness, Lactic Acid

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