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The Role of Brain Lactate Metabolism in Neuroprotection During Healthy Aging
Sponsor: Northern Arizona University
Summary
The brain's primary source of fuel is glucose. Unfortunately, the brain's ability to use glucose declines during normal aging. This decline in brain glucose metabolism makes it vulnerable to cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. The brain can use another fuel source - lactate - which becomes available to the brain during exercise. The investigators have discovered that when lactate fuels the brain, brain glucose metabolism also improves. Essentially, from a metabolic angle, the brain appears younger. Recently, the investigators have shown that lactate - even in the absence of exercise - stimulates this beneficial effect on the brain. The investigators propose to compare the effects of lactate in healthy young and older adults to test whether these beneficial lactate-mediated effects persist throughout the lifespan, thereby providing a blueprint to restore youthful brain glucose metabolism.
Official title: Effects of Lactate on Brain Carbohydrate Metabolism in Healthy Aging
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
20 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2027-01-01
Completion Date
2029-01-01
Last Updated
2026-07-28
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Sodium lactate infusion
Sodium lactate will be infused to target circulating concentrations between 4-6 mmol/L
Exercise-induced hyperlactatemia
Cycling will be performed at an intensity to increase circulating lactate to 4-6 mmol/L
Locations (1)
Northern Arizona University Dept of Biological Sciences
Flagstaff, Arizona, United States