Exploring mitochondrial cholesterol (mChol) signalling for therapeutic intervention in neurological conditions

The pharmacological targeting of cholesterol levels continues to draw interest due to the vast success of therapeutics such as statins in extending life expectancy by modifying the prognosis of diseases associated with the impairment of the lipid metabolism. Advances in our understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic age‐related diseases of the brain have unveiled an emerging role for mitochondrial cholesterol (mChol) in their pathophysiology, thus delineating an opportunity to provide mechanistic insights and explore strategies of intervention. This review draws attention to novel signalling mechanisms in conditions linked with impaired metabolism associated with impaired handling of cholesterol and its oxided forms (oxysterols) by mitochondria. By emphasising the role of mChol in neurological diseases we here call for novel approaches as well as new means of assessment