Revolutionary Omega-3 Lipid Sheds New Light on Brain Development and Aging

Researchers have identified a special transporter protein, Mfsd2a, that plays a critical role in regulating the brain cells responsible for protecting nerves with myelin sheaths. Loss of myelin sheaths can occur during the normal aging process and in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. LPC omega-3 lipids can direct oligodendrocyte development, a process that is critical for brain myelination. The findings could pave the way for developing therapies and dietary supplements based on LPC omega-3 lipids that might help retain myelin in the aging brain and treat patients with neurological disorders stemming from reduced myelination.