Myelin makes it easier for neurons to send electrical signals. If a neuron has defects in its myelin coating, it will require more energy to work. An extreme example of this is multiple sclerosis, in which myelin is destroyed by an autoimmune process. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with problems in myelin production and maintenance. Consistent with the brain energy theory, defects in myelin have been identified in the brains of people with schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and even obesity.13
