Protective Effects of Dietary Supplementation with a Combination of Nutrients in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study investigated the effects of intervention with a combination of nutrients in the amyloid precursor protein-presenilin (APP-PSN) C57BL/6J double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).MethodsA total of 72 2-month-old APP-PSN mice were randomly assigned to three groups. The model group (MG) was fed regular, unsupplemented chow, while the low- and high-dose treatment groups (LG and HG, respectively) were given a combination of nutrients that included phosphatidylserine, blueberry extracts, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid as part of their diet. An additional 24 wild-type littermates that were fed unsupplemented chow served as the negative control group (NG). After 3 and 7 months of treatment, the cognitive performance was assessed with the Morris water maze and the shuttle box escape/avoidance task, and the biochemical parameters and oxidative stress were evaluated in both the blood and brain.ResultsAn improvement in antioxidant capacity was observed in the treatment groups relative to the MG at 3 months, while superior behavioral test results were observed in the mice of the HG and NG groups. In the MG, pycnosis was detected in neuronal nuclei, and a loss of neurons was observed in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. At 7 months, the β-amyloid1–42 peptide accumulation was significantly elevated in the MG but was markedly lower in the mice fed the nutrient combination. The antioxidant capacity and behavioral test scores were also higher in these mice.ConclusionsEarly intervention with a combination of nutrients should be considered as a strategy for preventing cognitive decline and other symptoms associated with AD.

Blueberry Supplementation Effects on Neuronal and Pathological Biomarkers in Subjects at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study

“…The former are markers of neuronal and glial function whereas the latter are markers of pathological changes. As stated previously, biomarkers Blueberry supplementation has been shown in some prior studies to benefit cognitive aging and preclinical studies have reported that blueberry bioactives may provide anti-oxidant benefits, enhance microglial clearance of Aβ, inhibit aggregation of Aβ42, or suppress microglial activation and provide protection against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity (reviewed in [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Blueberry supplementation has also been reported to improve cognition in pilot studies of MCI (16,17).…”

“…Practical, well-tolerated, and non-invasive lifestyle interventions are highly desirable for AD prevention in at-risk middle-aged and older adults (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Evidence from epidemiological, pre-clinical and pilot clinical studies suggests that regular consumption of blueberries may protect against cognitive decline or dementia (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Blueberries contain high levels of micronutrients and antioxidants (such as anthrocyanins) which in preclinical studies have been found to impact many pathways involved in cognitive function or dementia risk -such as reduced oxidative stress, improved inflammatory response, reversed age-related decrements in cognition, increased cerebral blood flow, enhanced microglial clearance of Aβ, inhibited aggregation of Aβ42, suppressed microglial activation and protection against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity (reviewed in 7,[12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

“…Evidence from epidemiological, pre-clinical and pilot clinical studies suggests that regular consumption of blueberries may protect against cognitive decline or dementia (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Blueberries contain high levels of micronutrients and antioxidants (such as anthrocyanins) which in preclinical studies have been found to impact many pathways involved in cognitive function or dementia risk -such as reduced oxidative stress, improved inflammatory response, reversed age-related decrements in cognition, increased cerebral blood flow, enhanced microglial clearance of Aβ, inhibited aggregation of Aβ42, suppressed microglial activation and protection against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity (reviewed in 7,[12][13][14][15][16][17]. Some, but not all, epidemiological studies have found evidence favoring a protective role of blueberry consumption on cognition or AD risk.…”

Roles of Nutraceuticals in Regulating Neurotransmitters in Dementia

“…Meanwhile, a combination of nutrients like phosphatidylserine, blueberry extracts, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are categorized under omega-3 fatty acids was also found to increase the level of acetylcholine by reducing the total cholinesterase (TChE) level in the brain of the AD transgenic mouse model [51]. Altogether, this supplementation improves memory and cognitive function and can be recommended as a complementary therapy for cognitive decline.…”

Inhibition of MiR-92a May Protect Endothelial Cells After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats: Role of KLF2/4

“…Generally, it is acknowledged that MI is closely related to oxygen radicals, vascular endothelial injury, and myocardial cell apoptosis [ 4 ]. Moreover, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis triggered by MI result in the loss of cardiomyocytes, which may further lead to a significant decrease in heart pumping and congestive heart failure [ 5 ]. Previous research has shown that timely reperfusion treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), by shrinking the myocardial necrosis zone, may cause reperfusion injury [ 6 – 11 ].…”