Lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases

The brain is the most lipid-rich organ of the human body. Emerging evidence indicates that perturbed cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism plays a prominent role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Alongside having a direct impact on the differentiation, function, and integrity of neurons and oligodendrocytes, disturbed fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism is key in driving both the disease- and repair-promoting features of peripheral and central nervous system (CNS)-resident immune cells. Accordingly, modulation of the lipid metabolism is increasingly being recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy to suppress neuroinflammation, prevent neurodegeneration, and stimulate CNS repair. In this chapter, we discuss pathogenic changes in the abundance and metabolism of cholesterol and fatty acids in CNS disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.