Beneficial effects of walnuts-enriched diet in the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
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1
NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Department of Neurochemistry, United States
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2
NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Department of Pathological Neurobiology, United States
Amyloid beta-protein (Aß) is the major protein of amyloid deposits in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Extensive evidence suggests neurotoxic effects of soluble oligomers of Aß, and the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in AD. Walnuts are rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components. We have previously reported protective effects of walnut extract against Aß-induced oxidative stress and cell death, and beneficial effects of dietary supplementation of 6% (T6) or 9% walnuts (T9) [equivalent to 1 or 1.5 oz of walnuts per day in human] on the memory, anxiety and learning skills in Tg2576 transgenic mouse model of AD (AD-tg). In this study, we compared Aß levels in the brain and blood samples of the AD-tg mice on diet with walnuts (T6, T9) and without walnuts (T0) and of wild-type (Wt) mice on diet without walnuts. At the age of 4 months (before starting diet with walnuts), Aß levels (brain and blood) were similar in T0 and Wt groups. At the age of 14.5 and 19 months, T0 had significantly higher Aß levels than Wt mice. In the brain, T6 and T9 mice had significantly lower levels of soluble Aß oligomers compared to T0 mice. In the blood samples, Aß levels were increased in T6 and T9 compared to T0 mice, suggesting that walnuts in the diet can increase the clearance of Aß from brain to the blood. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with walnuts may have a beneficial effect in reducing the risk, delaying the onset, or slowing the progression of AD because it can (a) inhibit Aß fibrillization, Aß-induced oxidative stress and Aß-mediated cytotoxicity, and (b) reduce the levels of soluble Aß oligomers in the brain and increase Aß clearance.
Keywords:
Memory,
in vivo,
Alzheimer’s disease,
natural product,
Amyloid protein
Conference:
14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 27 Aug - 30 Aug, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Free Paper Session 1: Novel Therapy for Brain Disorders
Topic:
14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry
Citation:
Chauhan
A,
Mehta
P and
Chauhan
V
(2016). Beneficial effects of walnuts-enriched diet in the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Conference Abstract:
14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fncel.2016.36.00098
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Received:
04 Aug 2016;
Published Online:
11 Aug 2016.
*
Correspondence:
Prof. Abha Chauhan, NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Department of Neurochemistry, Staten Island, New York, United States, abha.chauhan@opwdd.ny.gov