Lipidomic and sterolomic profiles of different brain regions in the mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202606000-00069/figure1/v/2026-02-11T151048Z/r/image-tiff Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Although increasing evidence suggests that disruptions in lipid metabolism are closely associated with the disease, the overall profile of lipid and sterol changes that occur in the brain during Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. In this study, we compared brain tissues extracted from 32-week-old male wild-type mice and 5×FAD transgenic Alzheimer's disease model mice, which carry mutations in the amyloid precursor protein ( APP ) and presenilin 1 ( PS1 ) genes. Using untargeted lipidomics and sterolomics techniques, we investigated the metabolic profiles of lipids, with a focus on sterols specifically, in three brain regions: cerebellum, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. Our results revealed significant alterations in various lipids, particularly in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, suggesting changes in energy levels in these regions. Further pathway analysis indicated notable disruptions in key metabolic processes, particularly those related to fatty acids and cell membrane components. Additionally, we observed decreased expression of 15 genes involved in lipid and sterol regulation. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into how imbalances in lipid and sterol metabolism may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer's disease, highlighting potential metabolic pathways involved in the development of this debilitating disease.