Brain and Blood Sugar

Do you remember where you were when President Kennedy was assassinated? Maybe you weren’t been born yet. How about when the space shuttle Challenger exploded? Or when the World Trade Center towers collapsed? Most people have vivid memories of where they were when these intense events occurred. At the same time, many people can’t recall a friend’s frequently called phone number or the name of someone they just met a half hour ago. The strong memory of traumatic events persists due to the powerful adrenal response—the fight or flight mechanism—that raises blood sugar to optimum levels. While the body utilizes both fat and sugar for energy, the brain is primarily dependent upon sugar. If the level of blood sugar rises too much, or falls too low, the brain has an immediately reduced capacity. This means you don’t remember as well, don’t respond as well to external stimuli, and can’t learn as easily. Reductions in overall mental and physical performance can follow: