Fat Matters: Understanding How Cholesterol and Fatty Acids Shape Psychiatric Illness

Lipids are fundamental to brain structure, synaptic signaling, and neuroinflammatory regulation, yet their role in psychiatric illness is often underappreciated. This session integrates emerging research on cholesterol and fatty acid biology with clinical insights into mood disorders, psychosis, and cognitive dysfunction. Faculty will examine how low cholesterol levels and omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies influence membrane fluidity, neurotransmission, and inflammatory pathways implicated in major psychiatric illness. Emphasis will be placed on translating metabolic and neurobiological findings into practical clinical applications, including assessment strategies and adjunctive interventions that complement psychopharmacologic care.

Session developed in partnership with Psychiatry Redefined.