Role of Fatty Acid Chemical Structures on Underlying Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gut Microbiota

Neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be closely related to common mechanisms such as protein aggregation, neural oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Although there are some drugs that can temporarily reduce symptoms, there is no cure for these diseases. Therefore, the discovery of molecules that can halt the pathology of these diseases is urgently needed in the present time. Fatty acids show positive effects on the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, depending on the degree of unsaturation and the shortness of the hydrocarbon chain. Understanding the effects of different structures of fatty acids on the underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and the balance of gut microbiota can produce positive implications for the development of future treatments. The present review focuses on the role of different fatty acids on underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, gut microbiota balance, and gut–brain axis.