HDL: close to our memories?

The last decade has witnessed an explosion in studies of the role of lipoproteins in brain function. Neurons require a continuous supply of lipids for membrane synthesis and acetylcholine production. Indeed, the brain is a site of intense lipid turnover—even though the central nervous system (CNS) accounts for only 2.1% of body weight, it contains 23% of total body cholesterol.1 Lipid metabolism in the brain is tightly controlled locally, as plasma lipoproteins are shielded from the brain by the blood-brain barrier. Although neuronal cells are capable of de novo synthesis of a wide spectrum of molecular species of lipids, they rely heavily on exogenous sources and readily bind and internalize lipoproteins of the extracellular fluid.2 Equally, neurons need to dispose of excess lipids; lipoprotein-mediated lipid transport is therefore bidirectional and includes cellular efflux of cholesterol.3