Lipid metabolism dysregulation has been recognized as a critical factor contributing to both obesity-related diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. The disruption of lipid homeostasis in obesity leads to the development of various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that lipid metabolism abnormalities extend beyond peripheral tissues and exert detrimental effects on the central nervous system. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease have been associated with impaired phospholipid, fatty acid, and cholesterol metabolism in the brain. These disruptions seem to occur at an early stage of the disease progression, potentially even before the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates.

The goal of this Research Topic is to explore the complex relationship between lipid metabolism dysregulation, obesity-related diseases, and neurodegeneration. By studying the role of free fatty acids and adipokines in lysosomal and autophagy function and mitochondrial metabolism, a better understanding of the metabolic dysfunction that contributes to disease pathogenesis as well as systemic inflammation will be gained. Additionally, the impact of dysregulated lipid metabolism on the brain, including the disruption of blood-brain barrier integrity, altered neuronal membrane composition, and impaired energy metabolism will be discussed. Understanding the complex interplay between lipid metabolism, obesity-related diseases, and neurodegeneration holds significant implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Targeting lipid metabolism pathways and restoring lipid homeostasis may offer promising approaches for mitigating the progression of both obesity-related metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, investigating shared mechanisms underlying these conditions may uncover common therapeutic targets that could have broader implications for improving overall metabolic and brain health.

The scope of this Research Topic is to investigate the molecular players and the associated mechanisms behind how lipid dysregulation affects metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, we invite contributions that cover the following sub-themes:
● Effect of obesity-induced insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome;
● Molecular players and cellular processes regulating lipid homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease;
● The association between obesity-related metabolic diseases (e.g. Type II diabetes, NAFLD) and neurodegeneration;
● Gut–Brain, Gut–Liver, and Liver–Brain axes in diseases;
● Potential therapeutic areas to target lipid metabolism in diseases;

We invite authors to submit Original Research articles, Reviews, and Perspectives on this topic. We encourage contributions from researchers in diverse fields, including metabolism, autophagy and lysosome regulation, inflammation, genetics, neurodegeneration as well as diagnostic tool development and therapeutic discovery.

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Frontiers in Endocrinology

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