The Role of cholesterol in disorders of brain and behavior: human and animal perspectives

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    Abnormal cholesterol metabolism is likely to have significant adverse impacts on the functioning of the brain and hence on behavior, given its key role in membrane function. In this chapter we examine the animal and human literature pertaining to links between abnormal cholesterol metabolism and impaired brain and behavioral function. In particular we focus on Alzheimer’s disease, suicide, depression, aggression, impulsivity, and autism. The literature indicates associations between all of these conditions and abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism, although the evidence base indicates substantial heterogeneity of outcome. An especially important line of evidence has come from lipid lowering medications, which have provided key causal data. This has suggested that abnormal cholesterol metabolism may have a more specialized role than was once first thought, affecting particular subgroups (e.g. violent suicides), rather than populations in general.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHandbook of cholesterol
    Subtitle of host publicationbiology, function and role in health and diseases
    EditorsRonald Ross Watson, Fabien De Meester
    Place of PublicationThe Netherlands
    PublisherWageningen Academic Publishers
    Pages53-69
    Number of pages17
    ISBN (Electronic)9789086868216
    ISBN (Print)9789086862764
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Publication series

    NameHuman health handbooks
    PublisherWageningen Academic Publishers
    Volume11
    ISSN (Print)2212-375X

    Keywords

    • Alzheimer’s disease
    • suicide
    • depression
    • aggression
    • autism

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