Cholesterol necessary for brain development: Swedish study

Cholesterol is necessary for the formation of brain cells, according to a recent study by the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institute.
Professor Ernest Arenas who led the study said experiment in mice shows that the formation of dopamine-producing neurons during brain development is dependent on the activation of a specific receptor in the brain by an oxidised form of cholesterol called oxysterol, said a press release from Karolinska institute.
“Oxysterol contributes to a safer and better cultivation of dopamine-producing cells, which is a great advancement since it increases the possibility of developing new treatments for Parkinson’s disease,” said Arenas.
Dopamine-producing nerve cells play an important part in many brain functions and processes, from motor skills to reward systems and dependency. They are also the type of cell that dies in Parkinson’s disease, added Professor Arenas.
It is hoped that one day it will be possible to replace dead cells in the brains of Parkinson’s patients with transplanted cultivated dopamine-producing cells. Such cells can also be used to test new Parkinson’s drugs, the press release added.
The results have been published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.