Pomegranate juice decreases amyloid load and improves behavior in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Although there are no proven ways to delay onset or slow progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), studies suggest that diet can affect risk. Pomegranates contain very high levels of antioxidant polyphenolic substances as compared to other fruits and vegetables. Polyphenols have been shown to be neuroprotective in different model systems. We asked whether dietary supplementation with pomegranate juice (PJ) would influence behavior and AD-like pathology in a transgenic mouse model. Transgenic mice (APP(sw)/Tg2576) received either PJ or sugar water control from 6 to 12.5 months of age. PJ-treated mice learned water maze tasks more quickly and swam faster than controls. Mice treated with PJ had significantly less (approximately 50%) accumulation of soluble Abeta42 and amyloid deposition in the hippocampus as compared to control mice. These results suggest that further studies to validate and determine the mechanism of these effects, as well as whether substances in PJ may be useful in AD, should be considered.
Hartman
Richard E
RE
Department of Psychology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA. behavioralneuroscience@gmail.com
Shah
Aartie
A
Fagan
Anne M
AM
Schwetye
Katherine E
KE
Parsadanian
Maia
M
Schulman
Risa N
RN
Finn
Mary Beth
MB
Holtzman
David M
DM
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001628:Beverages; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D029561:Lythraceae; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000187:drug effects; D059808:Polyphenols; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols