HDL: Close to Our Memories?

he last decade has witnessed an explosion in studies of the role of lipoproteins in brain function. Neurons require a continuous supply of lipids for membrane synthesis and acetylcholine production. Indeed, the brain is a site of intense lipid turnover—even though the central nervous system (CNS) accounts for only 2.1% of body weight, it contains 23% of total body cholesterol.1 Lipid metabolism in the brain is tightly controlled locally, as plasma lipoproteins are shielded from the brain by the blood-brain barrier. Although neuronal cells are capable of de novo synthesis of a wide spectrum of molecular species of lipids, they rely heavily on exogenous sources and readily bind and internalize lipopro- teins of the extracellular fluid.2 Equally, neurons need to dispose of excess lipids; lipoprotein-mediated lipid transport is therefore bidirectional and includes cellular efflux of cholesterol.3 See accompanying article on page 1556