Abstract

In this mini review, the importance of experimental steroidomics in the study of neurodegenerative disease and aging is discussed. Attention is focused on just one class of lipid which is based on the cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring system. Experimental methods for steroidomic analysis are reviewed, and the potential to use these methods to diagnose disease and to gain a better understanding of neurodegenerative disorders is examined.

Keywords: Mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, sterols, steroids, Alzheimer's disease, brain, CNS