Aging Brain and Lipids

Abstract

Living organisms are cell aggregates functionally assembled, and each cell can survive and play roles due to its normal membrane functions. Since the membrane functions are controlled by the lipid microenvironment in lipid bilayers, altered lipid composition which could take place in senescence should result in the decrease of membrane and cellular functions, and eventually in the diminished activities of organs and whole bodies. Focused on aging brain inthis article, the changes in membrane lipids will be correlated with the decreases in membrane functions, and the importance of so-called “brain plasticity” will be discussed by describing an example in which a modification of membrane lipids appeares to improve synaptic functions.