4th Edition 2026

UK Scientists Reveal Alzheimer’s Protein Disrupts Brain Energy Supply

Published on: Mar 03, 2026

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have discovered a new explanation for why sleep problems often appear years before memory loss in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Led by scientists at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and published in NPJ Dementia, the study shows that the tau protein disrupts the brain’s normal energy use.

Instead of converting glucose into energy in the usual way, brains affected by tau pathology divert sugar toward producing glutamate, a chemical messenger that stimulates brain activity. This overproduction keeps the brain in a hyperactive state, preventing it from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep necessary for memory and recovery.

According to lead investigator Shannon Macauley, Ph.D., tau essentially “hijacks” the brain’s fuel supply, repeatedly channeling glucose into excitatory signaling rather than balanced energy production. The result is persistent wakefulness and disrupted sleep cycles symptoms that often emerge decades before a formal Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Importantly, researchers believe some of these effects may be reversible. Because the study identifies the specific metabolic pathway involved, existing medications used for conditions such as epilepsy or diabetes may potentially help restore balance to the brain’s energy system. This approach could improve sleep and quality of life even before a definitive cure is available.

The researchers emphasize that maintaining healthy sleep habits remains one of the most practical steps individuals can take to potentially slow disease progression and reduce caregiver burden while long-term treatments continue to be developed.

Source: https://uknow.uky.edu/research/uk-researchers-discover-brain-s-energy-hijacked-alzheimer-s-protein-0

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