Lipid Droplets in Alzheimers Disease: Roles and Implications

Alzheimers disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which becomes one of the most costly, fatal, and burdening diseases in this century. Lipid droplets (LDs), once considered passive storage organelles, are now recognized as dynamic structures involved in multiple biological process, with accumulating evidence suggesting the association between LDs and AD. This review systematically synthesizes findings from more than forty core studies published over the past decade, summarizing current knowledge on LD biogenesis and function, their accumulation in various brain cell types, and their dual role in either mitigating lipotoxicity or exacerbating neurodegeneration in AD. We propose bidirectional lipid trafficking between neurons and glial cells as a critical future research direction, postulating its important yet uncharacterized contribution to AD pathogenesis. Understanding LD dynamics and their cross-talk among brain cells may reveal innovative strategies for AD therapy.