Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered that neurons in the brain actively store and utilize lipids as an energy source, a finding that overturns the long-standing dogma that brain cells rely solely on glucose. The study, published in the journal Nature, shows that healthy neurons contain lipid droplets which play a crucial role in supporting their function and in regulating whole-body energy balance.
The research team, led by Dr. Vanessa Auld and Dr. Maite Castro, used the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) and mouse models to demonstrate this process. They found that specific glial cells, known as astrocytes, produce lipid particles that are transferred to neurons. The neurons then store these lipids in droplets and break them down via mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation when energy demands are high, such as during fasting.
This discovery fundamentally changes the understanding of brain metabolism and its connection to systemic energy regulation. It suggests that impairments in neuronal lipid handling could be a factor in metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. The study provides a new framework for investigating the links between brain health, diet, and diseases like obesity and Alzheimer's.
