The fat brain

Purpose of review
The purpose of this brief review is to gain an understanding on the multiple roles that lipids exert on the brain, and to highlight new ideas in the impact of lipid homeostasis in the regulation of synaptic transmission.
Recent findings
Recent data underline the crucial function of lipid homeostasis in maintaining neuronal function and synaptic plasticity. Moreover, new advances in analytical approaches to study lipid classes and species is opening a new door to understand and monitor how alterations in lipid pathways could shed new light into the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration.
Summary
Lipids are one of the most essential elements of the brain. However, our understanding of the role of lipids within the central nervous system is still largely unknown. Identifying the molecular mechanism (s) by which lipids can regulate neuronal transmission represents the next frontier in neuroscience, and a new challenge in our understanding of the brain and the mechanism(s) behind neurological disorders.

Source: Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care - February 11, 2020 Category: Nutrition Tags: LIPID METABOLISM AND THERAPY: Edited by Philip C. Calder and Richard J. Deckelbaum Source Type: research