Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor （PPAR） is a ligand-activated transcription factor in the nuclear hormone receptor family，containing three different subtypes of PPARs，PPARα，PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. PPARβ/δ controls many intracellular metabolic processes，including the metabolism of long-chain fatty acids，cholesterol and sphingolipid. As a transcription factor，PPARβ/δ can be activated by dietary lipids and endogenous ligands （e.g. long-chain saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids） as well as certain lipid metabolites. It displays transcriptional activity mainly through interacting with the retinoid X receptorα（ RXRα） to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism，mitochondrial function，and cell growth. Despite of its high expression in brain cells and in different brain regions，its role in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation remains poorly understood. In recent years，the role of PPARβ/δ in neurodegenerative diseases has attracted more and more attention. Based on the structure and biological function of PPARβ/δ，this paper reviews its role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease，Parkinson’s disease，Huntington’s disease and multiple sclerosis.