hersenvet

Hersenvet, literally “brain fat” in Dutch, is an informal term used to describe the lipid components of brain tissue. It is not a formal scientific designation, but it is commonly applied to the complex mixture of lipids that form neuronal membranes, myelin sheaths, and related storage lipids. Core constituents include cholesterol, phospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine), sphingolipids (including gangliosides and sphingomyelin), and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Roles and functions of hersenvet include providing membrane structure and fluidity, supporting the insulation of nerve fibers through myelin, and participating in signaling through lipid raft domains. DHA and other polyunsaturated fats contribute to membrane properties important for neurotransmission and receptor function. Although lipids are present in many tissues, the brain has a distinctive lipid composition and a high demand for certain fatty acids.

Development and aging influence brain lipid content. During development, myelination increases lipid accumulation in white matter; aging can alter lipid metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis, with potential implications for neurodegenerative processes. Disturbances in brain lipid metabolism are studied in relation to conditions such as demyelinating diseases and, more broadly, neurodegenerative disorders, though the term hersenvet itself is not used as a formal diagnostic category.

Dietary fats, especially essential fatty acids, influence brain lipid composition, while cholesterol synthesis in the brain and selective transport across the blood–brain barrier shape local lipid pools. Lipidomics and magnetic resonance spectroscopy are among methods used to study brain lipids.

See also: brain lipids, cholesterol in the brain, myelin, lipidomics.