Brain Lipids in Ageing and in Alzheimer's Disease: A Review

We have reviewed the evidence for changes in lipids in blood and brain in ageing animals, in ageing humans and in humans with Alzheimer's disease. Studies of anti-oxidant enzymes in isolation are unsatisfactory and other markers of the oxidation/reduction status of tissues are required. There is less work showing increased protein oxidation with ageing but so far it seems to be more consistent. Possible associations of free radical activity with amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease are discussed.