title: Extra virgin olive oil improves learning and memory in SAMP8 mice.
abstract: Polyphenols are potent antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO); antioxidants have been shown to reverse age- and disease-related learning and memory deficits. We examined the effects of EVOO on learning and memory in SAMP8 mice, an age-related learning/memory impairment model associated with increased amyloid-β protein and brain oxidative damage. We administered EVOO, coconut oil, or butter to 11 month old SAMP8 mice for 6 weeks. Mice were tested in T-maze foot shock avoidance and one-trial novel object recognition with a 24 h delay. Mice which received EVOO had improved acquisition in the T-maze and spent more time with the novel object in one-trial novel object recognition versus mice which received coconut oil or butter. Mice that received EVOO had improve T-maze retention compared to the mice that received butter. EVOO increased brain glutathione levels suggesting reduced oxidative stress as a possible mechanism. These effects plus increased glutathione reductase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased tissue levels of 4-hydroxynoneal and 3-nitrotyrosine were enhanced with enriched EVOO (3 × and 5 × polyphenols concentration). Our findings suggest that EVOO has beneficial effects on learning and memory deficits found in aging and diseases, such as those related to the overproduction of amyloid-β protein, by reversing oxidative damage in the brain, effects that are augmented with increasing concentrations of polyphenols in EVOO.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research Educational and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, St. Louis, MO 63106, USA. farrsa@slu.edu
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Farr
authors.forename: Tulin O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Ligia J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Motisi
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saiano
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Niehoff
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Nuran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ercal
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbagallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002079:Butter; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D000069463:Olive Oil; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D002079:Butter; D000074263:Coconut Oil