Current Studies
1. Genes and Brain Energy Use
We are studying how a common gene, called APOE, influences the way the brain uses sugar as fuel. Some people carry a version of this gene (APOE ε4) that is linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. By comparing brain scans from people with and without this gene, we want to understand whether their brains process glucose differently — and how factors like body weight and fat in the blood may change this process
2. How Sugar Reaches the Brain
When we eat or drink sugar, our body releases hormones that help move glucose into our cells. We are testing whether taking sugar by mouth (like a sweet drink) affects the brain differently than receiving the same sugar through an IV. We also measure hormones like GLP-1 and GIP, which play a role in digestion and diabetes. This work could help explain why diet and metabolism influence brain health
3. Diabetes and Brain Connections
Diabetes doesn’t just affect blood sugar — it may also change the brain. We use advanced brain scans (PET-CT and MRI) to measure synaptic density, which is how strongly brain cells are connected and able to “talk” to each other. We are exploring whether people with diabetes show differences in these connections compared to people without diabetes
4. Sleep and Blood Sugar
Sleep and metabolism are closely linked. In this study, we monitor both brain waves during sleep and blood sugar levels using overnight sleep studies and continuous glucose monitors. We want to learn how type 2 diabetes affects the brain’s sleep patterns — especially “spindles,” brief bursts of brain activity important for memory — and how changes in blood sugar may influence those brain waves
5. Fat and Brain Fuel
High levels of fat in the blood can change how the body and brain use sugar. We study how raising fat levels in the bloodstream (using safe, short-term infusions) affects the brain’s ability to transport and use glucose. By comparing people with obesity and those of normal weight, we hope to better understand how obesity impacts brain metabolism and long-term brain health
6. Energy Use in the Growing Brain
Children’s bodies are constantly balancing where to spend energy — some goes toward building and maintaining the brain, while some supports growth and other organs. In this study, we use safe and non-invasive MRI scans and body measurements to understand how energy is “shared” between the brain and body during childhood. We want to learn whether children with obesity show differences in this energy balance compared to their peers. Understanding these patterns may reveal why some children are at greater risk for weight gain and help guide healthier growth strategies.
Contact Us
Brain Metabolism Lab at UNC School of Medicine
Division of the Endocrinology and Metabolism
BrainMetabolismLab@med.unc.edu
Biomedical Research Imaging Center at UNC
125 Mason Farm Road Marsico, Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Brain Metabolism Lab
Burnett-Womack Building, 160 Dental Cir, Chapel Hill, NC 27514