Sphingomyelins and ceramides: possible biomarkers for dementia?

Dementia is a public health challenge with no existing cure or early biomarkers. We review the evidence for blood-based measures of sphingomyelins and ceramides as potential novel biomarkers of dementia.

In recent years, lipids have been under investigation for their role in neurodegenerative diseases especially dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Increasing evidence from postmortem human brains suggests that alterations in the metabolism of sphingolipids could play a crucial part in dementia. Findings from epidemiological investigations of blood-based sphingomyelins and ceramides have been inconsistent.

This review focuses on blood-based measures of 10 specific ceramides and sphingomyelins (Cer C16:0, Cer C20:0, Cer C22:0, Cer C24:0, Cer C24:1 and SM C16:0, SM C20:0, SM C22:0, SM C24:0, SM C24:1) in relation to cognition and dementia. On the bais of 15 studies, there was no robust association between ceramide and sphingomyelin levels and prevalent or incident dementia. Cross-sectionally, Cer C16:0 and Cer C24:1 tends to be higher in dementia cases vs. controls.