Co-author Daniel Colón-Ramos, the Dorys McConnell Duberg Professor of Neuroscience and Cell Biology at YSM, said the study supports the notion of glycogen as an “energy capacitor” in neurons.
“Just like in muscles, this reserve can buffer rapid shifts in energy demand,” Colón-Ramos said. “That flexibility might be crucial for how the brain maintains function and responds to stress. This research reshapes our understanding of brain energy metabolism and opens new avenues for exploring how to protect and support neuronal function in disease.”
Other authors, all from Yale, include Sarah Emerson, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience; Ian J. Gonzalez, a graduate student in cell biology; Anjali A. Vishwanath and Anastasia Tsives, post-doctoral researchers in neuroscience; and Richard Goodman, a research scientist in neuroscience.