The Effect of Grapes in Mice with Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Injury

<p>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting in cognitive and memory deficits and deposits of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the cortex and hippocampus are thought to be significant contributors to the disease process. Increasing evidence suggests that foods rich in polyphenols, such as pomegranates and grapes, may have neuroprotective effects in both rodents and humans. Our previous research has shown that a pomegranate-enriched diet decreased Aβ plaque load and improved behavior in Tg2576 mice. In this study, we determined whether a grape-enriched diet altered Aβ neuropathology and TBI in PSAPP mice. Mice received either craniotomy or a moderate TBI. Naïve mice (non-injured) underwent anesthesia. Mice consumed either a grape-enriched or a control diet for 8 weeks. Behavioral tests were administered 2 weeks after injury. CCI mice showed significant motor and memory deficits, with no effect of diet. The grape-enriched diet trended towards the reduction of lesion volume and motor deficits in craniotomy mice. Most surprising, CCI reduced fibrillar Aβ plaque load while diet did not have an affect on AD neuropathology. These results suggest that brain injury may be neuroprotective against the progression of AD.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2014

Author dc:creator

• Mistry, Nikita

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hartman, Richard E.
• Haerich, Paul
• Pop, Viorela

• Cognition and Perception
• Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• Psychology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Alzheimer Disease; Brain Injuries; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy; Neurofibrillary Tangles; Grape See Extract; Flavonoids - Therapeutic Use; Phytotherapy; Disease Models - Animal; Mice
• Neurodegenerative Disorders; Cognitive and Memory Deficits; Polyphenols; Neuroprotective Effects

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/218

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1217