Lipids in the Brain

Until about thirty years ago, lipids were considered only as components of cell membranes. Today these molecules represent a new frontier research aimed at studying them as biologically active molecules essential for the cell fate and involved in many physio-pathological processes. In the Central Nervous System (CNS), lipids are structural components that act by modulating cell membrane fluidity and are signaling molecules acting as second messengers or feeding into second messenger pathways. Homeostasis of membrane lipids in neurons and glial cells is essential to preventing the loss of synaptic plasticity, cell death and neurodegeneration. This is extremely important because neurodegeneration is present in the different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia or lysosomal storage disorders. Several neutral and polar lipids and lipid peroxidation products are involved in the in homeostatic dysregulation of the brain.

Currently it is unknown if lipids are associated with brain diseases through direct or indirect mechanisms.

Research focusing on the identification of specific mechanisms of lipid action, lipid disorder as modifiable risk factors, lipid profiles as possible biomarkers and/or of lipids as specific targets for innovative therapeutic strategies represent a challenge for the future.

In this Research Topic we will address several of these points with Original Research Articles, Review Articles and Method Articles covering topics ranging from basic research to clinical studies. We are looking for novelty in the relation between lipids in the brain, blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid and physiopathology of the brain.