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Seasonality in regional brain glucose metabolism
Rui Zhang1, Dardo Tomasi1, Ehsan Shokri-Kojori1
1National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Human brain glucose metabolism varies seasonally, with prefrontal regions showing higher activity during longer days. These findings link brain function to seasonal mood changes and may inform psychiatric treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Metabolic Imaging
Background:
- Seasonal variations in mood and cognition are known.
- Human brain glucose metabolism's seasonal changes are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate seasonal effects on human brain glucose metabolism.
- Explore the role of rest-activity rhythms in these variations.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 97 healthy adults.
- 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET for brain glucose metabolism.
- Actigraphy for rest-activity rhythms.
Main Results:
- Regional brain glucose metabolism varied seasonally.
- Prefrontal metabolism increased with longer daylength and faster daylength gain.
- Specific regions showed peak metabolism near solstices or equinoxes, linked to daylength and its rate of change.
Conclusions:
- Seasonal patterns in brain glucose metabolism are region-specific.
- Findings advance understanding of brain function related to mood and cognition.
- Data may guide interventions for time-specific psychiatric symptoms.
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