Impact of Cholesterol and Sterol Derivatives on Pathogenetic Mechanisms and on the Therapy of Neuropsychiatric Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

As cholesterol is key for neural cell function, scientists are slowly incorporating the idea that hypercholesterolemia is a foe that negatively impacts on the plastic changes that lead to neurodegenerative diseases and that affect the appearance of psychotic episodes in neuropsychiatric patients. On the one hand, this vision should be reviewed since cholesterol cannot cross the blood–brain barrier, that is, cholesterol is synthesized in situ by the cells of the central nervous system. On the other hand, sterols, both endogenous and present in food and beverages, affect neuronal function. Finally, there are controversies about the advisability of using hypocholesterolemic agents that enter the brain, that is, what is more appropriate: using drugs that enter the brain or those that inhibit the formation of cholesterol only in the periphery. In summary, this Special Topic is open to original reports or reviews covering any aspect related to the relationship between neuropsychiatric diseases and cholesterol and sterols in brain. The overall objective is to improve our knowledge about pathogenic mechanisms and explore new therapy opportunities.

Dr. Rafael Franco
Guest Editor

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