Cholesterol, a fat-like substance in the body best known for its role in cardiovascular health, also plays a key role in how neurons—foundational cells for the brain's ability to process and integrate information—communicate with one another. Now, research led by Vitaly A. Klyachko, a professor in the WashU Medicine Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, has shown that brain cells called astrocytes regulate cholesterol supply to modulate neuronal communication. The findings are published in the Journal of Cell Biology.