Accumulation of dolichols in brains of elderly.

Abstract

Dolichol levels in human brain gray matter increased from 18 micrograms/g in 6-year-old to 263 micrograms/g in 68-year-old human brain gray matter. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis shows dolichols ranging from 14 to 22 isoprene units with 19 isoprene units containing species predominating (approximately 44%). This may be the first report of an appreciable accumulation of a lipid in brains of elderly.