Neurons and the DHA Principle

In Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, DHA-enriched membranes of neurons become dysfunctional and energetically wasteful, triggering premature death of neurons. Recent discoveries have highlighted the role of omega-3 fatty acid DHA in brain health and degeneration as well as the molecular biology of this fatty acid in neurons. This text explores this process and proposes a new model for understanding the basis of these diseases. Using examples from the world of animal cells, the book illustrates how DHA acts both as an essential building block of neurons while also leading to their demise.