Analysis of biofluid lipid changes: potential biomarkers for detecting central nervous system diseases and neurotoxicity

The brain is highly enriched in lipids. A growing body of research has shown that brain lipid content and composition change in various neurological disorders. In addition to brain tissues, lipid changes have been detected in cerebrospinal fluid and blood in animal models of various central nervous system diseases and patients. Altered lipid metabolism has also been observed to contribute to the development and progression of sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity. Analyses of lipid profiles have provided significant insights into the under-lying mechanisms of central nervous system diseases. Assessing changes in lipid profiles in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood may provide additional information on the status of the brain in clinical settings. This mini-review summarizes the recent updates on lipids in diverse neurological conditions and discusses the application of lipid analysis to neurotoxicity assessment studies.