Lipids as Biomarkers of Brain Disorders

Whilst the role of lipids has been particularly relevant within cardiovascular disease, their abundance in the body and high prevalence in several pivotal organs makes them novel biomarkers for many brain disorders. Lipids comprise up to 60% of the dry weight of the brain and have distinct structural attributes that allows them to contribute to many physiological functions, such as energy storage, transportation, and the formation of cell membranes. In the brain, lipids are responsible for impulse conduction, insulation, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis. Importantly, lipids are vital in the formation of the myelin sheath, which encases all neurons, permitting signal transmittance.