Glycolipid balance is key to normal body function, and its alteration can lead to a variety of diseases involving multiple organs and tissues.
Glycolipid disturbances are also involved in
Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis and aging. Increasing evidence suggests that
glycolipids affect cellular functions beyond the brain, including the peripheral immune system, intestinal barrier, and immunity. Hence, the interplay between aging,
genetic predisposition, and environmental exposures could initiate systemic and local
glycolipid changes that lead to inflammatory reactions and neuronal dysfunction. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the link between
glycolipid metabolism and immune function and how these metabolic changes can exacerbate immunological contributions to
neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on PD. Further understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control
glycolipid pathways and their impact on both peripheral tissues and the brain will help unravel how
glycolipids shape immune and nervous system communication and the development of novel drugs to prevent PD and promote healthy aging.