Lipids and Their Role in Aging and Neurodegenerative Decline

Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic molecules including fats, oils, phospholipids, and steroids that are vital for numerous biological functions including energy storage, cellular structure, and signaling whose composition and metabolism undergo profound transformations with age. These age-related shifts due to increased lipid peroxidation, disrupted cholesterol homeostasis, and altered membrane phospholipid content, actively contribute to progressive loss in cellular homeostasis and pathogenesis of major age-related diseases. This review explores the critical role of lipids: as master regulators of cellular signaling pathways, and as key drivers of chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Dysregulated lipid metabolism is central to cardiovascular disease which is driven by altered myocardial energy substrate utilization and lipoprotein dynamics. In neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, disruptions in ceramide, cholesterol, and specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators fuel neuroinflammation and protein aggregation. Furthermore, we explore the dual role of dietary lipids, which can either exacerbate or mitigate age-related decline, highlighting the potential of personalized nutritional approaches and lipid-targeting therapeutics. By integrating the mechanisms of lipid signaling, inflammation, and metabolic regulation, this analysis highlights that lipids are not merely passive structural components but active drivers of the aging process, positioning lipid metabolism as a promising frontier for interventions aimed at promoting health span and combating age-related disease.