Roles of Cholesterol and Lipids in the Etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease

摘要

Alzheimer's disease is the principal cause of dementia throughoutthe world and the fourth cause of death in developedeconomies.This brain disorder is characterized by the formation ofbrain protein aggregates, namely, the paired helical filaments andsenile plaques. Oxidative stress during life, neuroinflamamtion,and alterations in neuron-glia interaction patterns have been alsoinvolved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease. In recent years,cumulative evidence has been gained on the involvement ofalteration in neuronal lipoproteins activity, as well as on therole of cholesterol and other lipids in the pathogenesis of thisneurodegenerative disorder. In this review, we analyze the linksbetween changes in cholesterol homeostasis, and the changes oflipids of major importance for neuronal activity andAlheimer's disease. The investigation on the fine molecularmechanisms underlying the lipids influence in the etiopathogenesisof Alzheimer's disease may shed light into its treatment andmedical management.