A recent study led by Patrizia Casaccia, founding director of the Advanced Science Research Centre’s (CUNY ASRC) Neuroscience Initiative and professor at the CUNY Graduate Center, has uncovered the cellular mechanisms that link high-fat diets, specifically those rich in palm oil, to worsening symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). By focusing on two enzymes—ceramide synthase 5 and 6—the study provides insights that may offer new strategies to protect neurons from diet-related damage in MS.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that deteriorates the protective myelin sheath around nerves, leading to debilitating neurological symptoms. While MS treatments typically target immune responses, the precise processes driving neurodegeneration remain unclear. Previous findings from Casaccia’s lab highlighted that high-fat diets can amplify the severity of MS symptoms, prompting researchers to investigate how diets high in palm oil might affect neuronal health.
Using a widely accepted experimental model of MS, the team discovered that palm oil in the diet accelerated disease progression in mice. “We found that palm oil, once inside neurons, is converted into a toxic compound called C16 ceramide through the action of enzymes CerS5 and CerS6,” said Casaccia. “This ceramide damages mitochondria, depriving neurons of energy needed to combat brain inflammation. We questioned whether deactivating these enzymes could protect neurons.”
The study confirmed that by genetically deleting the enzymes CerS5 and CerS6, researchers could prevent neuron damage in the MS model, even when mice consumed a diet rich in palmitic acid. Damien Marechal, co-first author and research associate, said, “Our findings highlight a specific metabolic pathway through which dietary fats worsen MS symptoms, suggesting that targeted enzyme inactivation could offer neuroprotection.”
For MS patients, the findings underscore the potential benefits of mindful dietary choices. “Our research provides a molecular understanding of how to protect neurons from harmful ceramide production linked to palm oil,” Casaccia said. “We hope these insights empower patients to make dietary decisions that could positively impact disease progression and guide further research into neuron-specific treatments.”
(Inputs from ANI)