Fatigue is one of the most common reasons for people to apply for primary care. However, the fatigue is not always visible externally; nor can it be detected or quantified by any blood sample or other test. Fatigue is a private experience. It is difficult to define and to measure in an objective manner. It can be experienced as physical or cognitive/mental fatigue, and may have different neurobiological and neurophysiologic correlates. Fatigue in neurological disorders has been suggested to have a neurobiological origin related to neural circuits that connect the basal ganglia, amygdala, thalamus, and frontal cortex (Chaudhuri and Behan, 2000, 2004). In support of this hypothesis, a dopamine imbalance hypothesis has been presented based on disruption of communication between these regions innervated by dopamine neurons. The dopamine imbalance is shown with structural and functional neuroimaging studies with abnormalities in the frontal and striatal regions (Dobryakova et al., 2015).

In this paper, we focus on pathological mental, or cognitive, fatigue that may be long-lasting after a brain trauma or disease in the nervous system; for symptoms, see Table 1. We extend our previously proposed hypothesis underlying this pathological mental fatigue (Rönnbäck and Hansson, 2004) by suggesting that the brain astroglial cells as a supporting system are dysfunctional concerning the glutamate fine-tuning in glutamate neurotransmission. Such dysfunction could be due to low-grade neuroinflammation together with slight but persistent microglial activation (Hansson and Rönnbäck, 1995; Rönnbäck and Hansson, 2004; Johansson and Rönnbäck, 2014).

In consideration of brain cell organization and energy supply, it is estimated that the human brain consists of 10¹¹ neurons and 3–5 times as many glial cells. A single neuron may thus have contacts with many thousands of other neurons. Each of these has further synaptic contact points that include a wrapping by astroglial end feet. Several thousands of neuron synapses are connected via the end feet of associated astroglial cells. Astroglial cells also have direct end foot-to-end foot connections forming large cell networks (Hansson and Rönnbäck, 2003; Siracusa et al., 2019).

Glutamate is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS. It is involved in mental activities such as learning and memory (Niciu et al., 2012). The astroglia regulate the extracellular glutamate levels ([Glu]_ec) and, after a presynaptic release and interaction with the post-synaptic glutamate receptors they clear the extracellular space from excessive glutamate (Hertz and Zielke, 2004). Glutamic acid [Glu]_ec has to be maintained at approximately 1–3 μM in order to maintain a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio in glutamate transmission (Yudkoff et al., 1993) and to minimize the risk for excitotoxic actions of glutamate on neurons (Choi, 1992). The astrocytes express high-affinity Na⁺-dependent glutamate transporters, the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) and the glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) (Danbolt, 2001), prominently located on astrocyte processes surrounding the synapses of glutamatergic neurons (Danbolt, 2001). GLT-1 is considered the most important transporter for removal and regulation of [Glu]_ec at synaptic sites. GLT-1 is expressed on astrocytes in the presence of glutamatergic neurons (Perego et al., 2000; Niederberger et al., 2003; Björklund et al., 2010).

The human brain requires continuous delivery of glucose and consumes approximately 20% of the total energy budget (Mink et al., 1981). Glucose is the main source of energy for brain functions, including ATP production, oxidative stress management, and synthesis of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and structural components (Mink et al., 1981; Mergenthaler et al., 2013). Inadequate energy resources give rise to pathological brain function (Harris et al., 2012; Mergenthaler et al., 2013). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is selectively permeable for glucose. The concentration gradient drives glucose across the endothelial membrane into the extracellular space via GLUT1 membrane transporter. This then mediates glucose uptake into astrocytes, oligodendroglia and microglia. Analogously, GLUT3 facilitates neuronal glucose uptake. Under normal physiological conditions, these cellular glucose uptake rates into neurons are controlled by brain activation (Mergenthaler et al., 2013).

Synaptic transmission needs a constant supply of energy (Mink et al., 1981) and therefore glucose metabolism is critical for information transfer and processing in the brain. Positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose has been used to measure glucose uptake and metabolism in the brain (Byrnes et al., 2014). Astrocytes get energy mostly via glycolysis, while for neurons this is primarily by mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Energy utilization in neurons is related to the activity of ion pumps for establishing electrical gradients which is important for efficient neuronal activation and information transfer. Astrocytes are thus key cells for the coupling between synaptic activity and energy metabolism transfer of lactate to neurons (Magistretti and Allaman, 2015). Both astrocytes and neurons are metabolically upregulated in response to increased neurotransmission (Harris et al., 2012). Glucose is used both as an energy source for the brain and is also a precursor for neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA) as well as neuromodulators (Dienel, 2019).

Neurons form large networks and signal from and to other neurons. A significant number of synapses could be activated in a mental or cognitive process. The pre- and post-synaptic membranes are encapsulated by astroglial processes, which express the glutamate uptake carriers. The astroglial cells thereby regulate glutamate and ion levels in the synaptic cleft (Ruff et al., 1994; Hansson and Rönnbäck, 1995; Hertz and Zielke, 2004; Perea et al., 2009; Lalo et al., 2021; Semyanov and Verkhratsky, 2021). Upon uptake of glutamate the astroglial cell volume increase somewhat, primarily due to osmosis (Hansson and Rönnbäck, 1995), but will rapidly be restored (Figure 1A). Upon intense glutamate signaling, the astrocytes can recruit help from other astrocytes within the astroglial network (Figure 1B). If there is a prominent glutamate transmission due to activation of large numbers of neurons, the astroglial support may be limited. Intense neuronal activity for a longer period of time could thus result in a saturation of the astroglial support (Figures 1B,C). Furthermore, the transport capacity of extracellular substances will be limited due to the decreased extracellular space (volume transmission) (Sykóva, 2001). It has been shown that glutamate causes astroglial swelling through interaction with metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (Shi et al., 2017). Even elevated extracellular K⁺ ([K⁺]_ec) induces astroglial swelling (Walch et al., 2020) thus decreasing the extracellular volume. As a consequence, the extracellular glutamate concentration will increase with a resulting triggering of action potentials and the level of mental precision will probably decrease. After a short break, however, the astroglial support of the glutamate transmission will be restored and we are mentally ready for further activities or to resume the mental work we were previously engaged in.

Information of neuronal activation can be evaluated with FDG-PET, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) (Magistretti and Allaman, 2015). Sustained hypometabolism or depressed cerebral glucose uptake has been observed in some brain regions after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Byrnes et al., 2014), and it was concluded that sustained brain hypometabolism or depressed cerebral uptake of FDG can last for days up to months after mild TBI (mTBI). Hypometabolism was detected after mild/moderate TBI, primarily in the frontal and temporal cortex (Ruff et al., 1994). Decreased glucose uptake was detected in bilateral frontal areas and an increased glucose uptake around the limbic system after mTBI (Komura et al., 2019). To date, there have been no studies relating glucose metabolism to fatigue in humans. However, the relation between hypometabolism and attention has been reported after TBI (Humayun et al., 1989; Gross et al., 1996; Mendeza et al., 2013). Reduced glucose metabolism using FDG-PET has also been found in other neurological patient groups. Glucose metabolism was significantly lower in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls, with predominant reduction bilaterally in prefrontal areas and in adjacent white matter. Fatigue was suggested to be related with dysfunctions in frontal cortex and basal ganglia (Roelcke et al., 1997). Those with Parkinson’s disease also suffering from fatigue showed metabolic changes in cortical regions, with lower glucose metabolism in the right insula (Cho et al., 2017), higher metabolism in right middle temporal gyrus and left middle occipital gyrus and lower metabolism in right precuneus and left inferior and superior frontal gyrus (Zhang et al., 2018).

Dysfunction in brain activity within the cortico-striatal-thalamic circuits measured with fMRI is suggested to be related to fatigue after TBI (Kohl et al., 2009; Engström Nordin et al., 2016; Möller et al., 2017; Wylie et al., 2017; Berginström et al., 2018; Skau et al., 2019). With use of fMRI during the performance of a processing speed task, increased brain activity was reported during the test period for people who had suffered a moderate to severe TBI, whereas decreased activity was found for the healthy controls in several brain regions (Kohl et al., 2009). From a study using fNIRS with participants suffering from metal fatigue after mTBI, it was suggested that, compared to healthy controls the mTBI group had a reduced neuronal activity in the frontal cortex (Skau et al., 2019). Reduced brain activity measured with fMRI was found in the basal ganglia, mainly in the caudate nucleus, thalamus, and anterior insula for the TBI group compared to controls. Brain activity diminished during the 27-min test session for the controls whereas the TBI group had a lower activity level, below the controls throughout the whole test session (Berginström et al., 2018). The brain activation (fMRI) in caudate nucleus was reported to be associated to fatigue when comparing a group of TBI participants in relation to healthy controls (Wylie et al., 2017). Abnormal functional connectivity in the thalamus and middle frontal cortex correlated with fatigue in a group of people who had suffered a mTBI (Engström Nordin et al., 2016), as well as altered cerebral blood flow (Möller et al., 2017). Furthermore, a neuroimaging study using fMRI relating to a processing speed task was performed on patients suffering from MS (Chen et al., 2020), a patient group where fatigue is highly prevalent (Shah, 2009). This study showed that the MS patients allocated a lower neuronal activity when exposed to demanding cognitive tasks in comparison with healthy controls (Chen et al., 2020).

Although much is still unknown about glucose metabolism after TBI and brain disorders and diseases and it appears that the hypometabolism and reduced glucose availability in many brain regions could account for the reduced dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin and acetylcholine signaling and attenuate astrocyte activation with a resulting reduction in glutamate uptake (McGuire et al., 2019). This hypometabolism could account for the emotional symptoms, which can be relieved by low-dose anti-depressive drugs. Further, the attenuated capacity to concentrate can be relieved by, e.g., methylphenidate which increases dopamine and noradrenalin in the synaptic space in frontal brain regions (Arnsten and Dudley, 2005). At least in some states involving disrupted integrity of the BBB, the glucose uptake into the nervous system would appear to be attenuated (Patching, 2017; Noe et al., 2020).

If the astroglial fine-tuning of [Glu]_ec is impaired, this would result in decreased precision in the glutamate signaling (Hansson and Rönnbäck, 1995; Hertz and Zielke, 2004; Rönnbäck and Hansson, 2004; Johansson and Rönnbäck, 2014). The signals taken into the brain and processed there will then be less distinct and probably more unspecific. More information-bearing signals will be recognized as “new” by sensory centers in the brain, and thus reach the cerebral cortex for further handling. Thereby, larger neuronal circuits would be activated. The impaired [Glu]_ec clearing from the synaptic space may cause local [Glu]_ec to increase which could give rise to astrocyte swelling with the concomitant shrinking of the extracellular space (Sykóva, 2001). Due to a decrease in extracellular space, diffusion of [Glu]_ec to adjacent neurons could activate nearby neurons in a non-specific way. In a learning and adaptation process, this will result in spatially altered pathways. As a result, many more synapses will be activated and even more astrocytes must be activated to support this increased neuronal activity. If there are several other processes with similar problems at the same time, the astroglial networks will not manage to maintain their tasks. As a result, an even more extended cell swelling will develop and there will be significant disturbances in sensitive ion transport via the extracellular space, i.e., decreased volume transmission (Figure 1C). Upon astroglial volume increase the cell membranes will depolarize slightly, which will further impair astroglial glutamate uptake, and also impair the astroglial capacity to remove [K⁺]_ec. Even slightly elevated [K⁺]_ec levels, up to 8–10 mM, have been shown to diminish glutamate release from the presynaptic terminals (Meeks and Mennerick, 2004). Astroglial cell volume is also known to increase when [K⁺]_ec increases (Walch et al., 2020). In addition, it has been shown that when astroglial glutamate uptake is impaired, even the glucose uptake by the astrocytes decreases (Hertz and Zielke, 2004) and consequently the supply of metabolic substrates to the neurons. In addition, decreased glutamine supply to the neurons due to the impaired astroglial handling of glutamate will result in a metabolic depletion concerning the glutamate transmission and thereby decreased glutamate release from the presynaptic terminals. Decrease in glucose supply and thereby attenuation of glutamate transmission will also reduce GABA formation and transmission. This is especially interesting as studies using fMRI from the caudate nucleus have demonstrated impaired glucose metabolism (see above and Wylie et al., 2017). In fact, in the caudate nucleus more than 90% of the cells are GABAergic. Fast-spiking GABAergic neurons represent a prominent number of feed-forward inhibition in many cortical and subcortical regions and fire at a high rate. They could also exhaust their transmitter pool and further contribute to the glutamate pathology. GABA has been shown to be involved in cognitive impairments (Ghosal et al., 2017; Cao et al., 2018) and might be of importance for information filtering in the brain (Hammett et al., 2020), which are symptoms of importance in mental/cognitive fatigue.

Thus, our hypothesis could explain why persons with these mental fatigue symptoms might be able to perform cognitive tasks just for short periods. However, in situations with heavy sensory stimulation, they will feel exhausted and it will take unproportionally long time to recover. They may be defined as having a Brain Energy Deficiency Disorder (BEDD).

It has been shown that overstimulation of the astrocyte networks, for instance in a state of neuroinflammation will lead to extracellular ATP signaling between the astroglial cells (Rodrigues et al., 2015). This will result in ATP interaction with microglial cells (Inoue, 2002) and even with brain mast cells (Traina, 2019) or pathological pericyte activation in the blood cell wall (Kawamura et al., 2003) thereby continuing the neuroinflammation and also the BBB disruption (Erickson et al., 2012; Cervellati et al., 2020). A vicious circle is created which can be difficult to stop once activated. Furthermore, in persons with premorbid inflammatory activity either within the CNS or outside it, the likelihood of being able to stop the injury or disease-induced neuroinflammation with disturbed BBB function may be limited.

It is well-known that TBI and ischemia as well as degenerative disorders are associated with neuroinflammation with disturbed integration of the BBB (Abbott et al., 2006; Profaci et al., 2020). Similarly mental/cognitive fatigue is common in autoimmune diseases such as MS, hypo- or hyperthyreosis and rheumatoid arthritis where there is an obvious neuroinflammation. It is interesting to note that in states of disease or disorder in the nervous system BBB integrity is affected (Abbott et al., 2006) and BBB seems more vulnerable to systemic inflammation (Varatharaj and Galea, 2017) thus with the possibility to maintain the neuroinflammation over time.

Cell swelling is another part of the hypothesis. The mechanisms behind cell volume variations are relatively well-understood, but their role in brain function remains largely unexplored. Osmosis is an essential driving force. Several astroglial processes change intracellular ion concentrations, which cause the cell to swell or shrink. An increase in volume is normally reversed as metabolized substances are released. Once we have a state with easily super-expandable cells, we will readily reach a state of limited extra cellular space. This, in turn could lead us to a result in terms of the perception of mental fatigue. Even [Glu]_ec, as mentioned above, mediates astroglial volume increase (Shi et al., 2017), as well as elevated [K⁺]_ec (Walch et al., 2020).

It is well-known that persons who suffer from pathological fatigue with impaired attention and concentration over time often have additional, quite different symptoms as well. These may include a more generalized physical fatigue, long-term pain, and autonomic nervous system symptoms. A regulatory imbalance across the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal cortex (HPA)-axis, which is under the control of glutamate has been demonstrated (Mathew et al., 2001). It has also been shown that glutamate can activate the amygdala to release corticotropine-releasing factor (CRF) (Cratty and Birkle, 1999), which, in turn can induce increased levels of glucocorticoids. In the long-term increased levels of glucocorticoids have been shown to interfere with glutamate transmission (Popoli et al., 2011). In this respect, it is of interest to mention that acute stimulation of CRF will result in increased attention as well as stimulation of the hypothalamic production of β-endorphins and pain relief. However, on the other hand, a long-term activation, with a down-regulation of the HPA-axis could result in fatigue, depressive mood, increased pain sensitivity and also increased sensitivity to infections and inflammatory states (Tsigos and Chrousos, 2002).

Some different approaches could be directed toward the following:

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

LR extended the previously presented hypothesis and wrote this manuscript in cooperation with BJ. Both authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.