Low ATP and Ischemic White Matter Damage

Low adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a major cause of ischemic white matter injury. ATP depletion deprives axons and oligodendrocytes of the energy needed to maintain ionic gradients, leading to ion pump failure, calcium toxicity, demyelination, and ultimately cell death. Mechanisms of Injury Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase failure: ATP depletion disables sodium-potassium pumps, causing sodium and water to…