Neuronal polyunsaturated fatty acids are protective in FTD/ALS.

A recent preprint study found that there is a conserved transcriptomic signature of reduced fatty acid and lipid metabolism gene expression in human post-mortem ALS spinal cord and a Drosophila model of FTD/ALS. The study also revealed a common and specific reduction in phospholipid species containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Increasing PUFA levels specifically in neurons led to a substantial extension of lifespan and suppressed stressor-induced neuronal death in patient iPSC-neurons. The study suggests that interventions to increase PUFA levels specifically within neurons may be beneficial in the treatment of FTD/ALS. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]