Free Fatty Acids of Normal Human Whole Brain at Different Ages

The total amount of free fatty acid and the distribution according to chain length and degree of unsaturation in human brain at different ages are presented. Total free fatty acid (expressed as millimoles/ 100 gm. fresh weight) increased into adult life (age 33) and then declined. fatty acid distribution according to chain length and degree of unsaturation was found to be very similar at all ages (fetus to 98 years), although a small decrease in 14:0, 16:0, and 16: 1 and an increase of 18:0 were apparent. Long chain normal and hydroxy fatty acids characteristic of sphingolipids were not detected in the free fatty acid pool.