People whose memory and thinking skills decline with age show less energy use in certain brain areas that are also affected early in Alzheimer’s disease — suggesting these two conditions might share similar brain changes.

We analyzed the available evidence and found that people with age-related cognitive decline tend to show reduced glucose metabolism in brain regions also affected early in Alzheimer’s disease. This pattern was observed across all 37 studies or assertions we reviewed, with none contradicting it [1]. Glucose metabolism refers to how the brain uses sugar for energy, and when it drops in certain areas, it may mean those regions are less active or struggling to function normally. These same areas — like the hippocampus and parts of the cortex — are often impacted in Alzheimer’s, which is why researchers have long suspected a connection between normal aging and the disease. What we’ve found so far suggests that the brain changes seen in older adults with memory or thinking problems may overlap with those seen in Alzheimer’s, at least in terms of energy use. This doesn’t mean one causes the other, or that everyone with reduced brain glucose metabolism will develop Alzheimer’s. But it does point to a shared pattern in how the brain behaves under decline. Our current analysis shows this link is consistently reported, though we don’t yet know why it happens or how it might change over time. For now, this pattern could help doctors spot early signs of cognitive changes, but it’s just one piece of a much larger picture. If you’re noticing memory lapses or mental fog as you age, it’s worth discussing with a healthcare provider — not because this pattern confirms disease, but because understanding your brain’s energy use might help guide better care.