Energy metabolism in childhood neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract

Whereas energy function in the aging brain and their related neurodegenerative diseases has been explored in some detail, there is limited knowledge about molecular mechanisms and brain networks of energy metabolism during infancy and childhood. In this review we describe current insights on physiological brain energetics at prenatal and neonatal stages, and in childhood. We then describe the main groups of inborn errors of energy metabolism affecting the brain. Of note, scarce basic neuroscience research in this field limits the opportunity for these disorders to provide paradigms of energy utilization during neurodevelopment. Finally, we report energy metabolism disturbances in well-known non-metabolic neurodevelopmental disorders. As energy metabolism is a fundamental biological function, brain energy utilization is likely altered in most neuropediatric diseases. Precise knowledge on mechanisms of brain energy disturbance will open the possibility of metabolic modulation therapies regardless of disease etiology.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation ameliorates adolescent depressive‐ and anxiety‐like behaviors via hippocampus glycolysis and inflammation response

“…Depression is often accompanied by disrupted energy metabolism 53–55 . In the present study, metabolism alterations were identified in all three brain regions of CUMS rats.…”

Maternal immune activation as an epidemiological risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders: Considerations of timing, severity, individual differences, and sex in human and rodent studies

“…Interestingly, there are often overlapping symptoms experienced by people diagnosed with various NDDs. These include cognitive and learning disabilities ( Pope and Kern, 2006 ; Gold et al, 2008 ; Cicero et al, 2014 ; Wang et al, 2017 ; Banker et al, 2021 ), decreased social behaviors ( Nijmeijer et al, 2008 ; Hooley, 2010 ; Uekermann et al, 2010 ; Savla et al, 2013 ; Staikova et al, 2013 ; Supekar et al, 2013 ; Perepa, 2014 ; Cotter et al, 2018 ; Porcelli et al, 2019 ), altered sleep patterns or disrupted circadian rhythms ( Williams et al, 2004 ; Cohrs, 2008 ; Konofal et al, 2010 ; Stein et al, 2012 ; Hvolby, 2014 ; Myles et al, 2016 ; Kaskie et al, 2017 ; Shelton and Malow, 2021 ), as well as metabolic or gastrointestinal disturbances ( Richardson and Ross, 2000 ; Singh et al, 2020 ; Oyarzábal et al, 2021 ). It is important to note that symptoms shared across different NDDs can manifest differently based on the specific disorder and the individual person.…”

Zika virus-induces metabolic alterations in fetal neuronal progenitors that could influence in neurodevelopment during early pregnancy

“…7 ). Intrauterine growth restriction and neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and autism comprise alterations in the metabolism of glucose and mitochondrial oxidation ( Devaskar and Chu, 2016 ; Jones et al, 2020 ; Vannucci and Vannucci, 2000 ; Jha et al, 2016 ; A et al, 2021 ) with impairment in neuronal communication but not significant cell death. These alterations may well correlate with some processes observed in infected late hi-NPCs, thus, potentially explaining the abnormalities observed in newborns when ZIKV infection occurs at later stages during pregnancy.…”