Question

What is the effect of low glucose on the brain?

1) It causes damage to the brain
2) It improves brain function
3) It has no effect on the brain
4) It leads to brain death

Answer 1

Low glucose, or hypoglycemia, deprives the brain of its primary energy source, leading to symptoms like weakness and fainting, and can cause brain damage or brain death if not addressed. The body uses hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The effect of low glucose on the brain is significant due to the brain's reliance on glucose as its primary source of energy. When blood glucose levels fall to a condition known as hypoglycemia, which occurs below normal physiological limits (approximately 60-20 mg/100 ml), the brain is deprived of its energy source. This leads to a number of symptoms, including convulsions, profuse sweating, weakness, tremors, fainting, and coma. If not corrected, prolonged hypoglycemia can eventually lead to brain damage and in severe cases, brain death.

It's important to note that the human body has various regulatory mechanisms, such as the hormone insulin and the opposing hormone glucagon, to maintain blood glucose levels within a normal range. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by allowing cells to take up glucose from the bloodstream, while glucagon prevents cells from taking up glucose, both contributing to blood glucose regulation.