Lipids in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Lipids play an essential role in maintaining healthy function of the human body. They serve as an energy source and contribute to multiple metabolic and cell signaling pathways. Although vital to human health, these molecules can also pose a risk for neurodegeneration after undergoing such reactions as peroxidation. Lipids, such as sphingolipids, cholesterol, and phospholipids, are currently being investigated for their contributions to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, lipid dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurodegeneration in regard to their use as viable biomarkers of disease. In some respects, specific lipids and essential fatty acids are being evaluated in preclinical studies as potential therapeutics for a variety of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With the advancement of modern technology and the advent of better diagnostic tools, earlier diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease is more common. Treatment strategies have become more innovative and effective. This article will focus on the relationship between lipids and neurodegenerative diseases. The citations chosen for this article are the most recent literature regarding lipids and neurodegenerative disorders. They serve as a comprehensive compendium to facilitate the comprehension of the studies discussed in this work. It will also demonstrate how current research supports the link of lipid biomarkers, neurodegenerative disorders, and restorative treatment strategies.

Software and Computational Tools for LC-MS-Based Epilipidomics: Challenges and Solutions

“…Lipids play a crucial role in cellular structure and functions, including cell signaling, membrane plasticity, and trafficking. Alterations of the lipid composition in cells, tissues, or organelles have been associated with a large number of diseases, including inflammation, cancer, and degenerative or metabolic disorders. − Within biological systems, lipids can undergo a range of enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions (e.g., oxidation, nitration, sulfation, and halogenation) that introduce structural modifications and/or new functional groups to the native molecule . The resulting modified lipid species, generally referred to as “epilipids”, are known to be heavily involved in the regulation of physiological and pathological conditions. − …”