Metabolism and skeletal muscle pathology in MND

Project summary

Our studies into energy needs in MND show that people living with MND use more energy than expected (this is commonly called “hypermetabolism”). We have also generated data to show that hypermetabolism in MND patients may be associated with increased energy needs in skeletal muscle, which itself is already energy demanding.

Using mouse models of MND, and biopsies of skeletal muscle from MND patients and non-MND control subjects, we are conducting the first studies that correlate the energy needs in skeletal muscle with the systemic energy needs of MND mice and each individual human participant. The mechanistic insights gained from these projects will allow us to determine whether metabolically directed treatment strategies should target skeletal muscle to improve muscle pathology, metabolic balance and prognosis in MND.