Lipid metabolism and Alzheimer's disease: pathways and possibilities.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing condition in dire need of new therapeutics for its cure. Currently marketed drugs only provide symptomatic relief and do not intervene in disease-modifying pathways. Deposition of amyloid beta peptides in the brain is considered to be at the core of pathological events in AD. Studies indicate that lipid/lipoprotein metabolism has a role in several steps in the etiology of AD.

Objective/methods: Here we review the molecular pathways by which lipid metabolism may influence AD and could form the basis for design of new disease modifying therapeutics.

Results/conclusions: Modulation of lipid metabolism has excellent potential to provide new avenues for disease modifying drugs for AD.