GSE183323
Long-term caffeine treatment of Alzheimer mouse models ameliorates behavioural deficits and neuron loss and promotes cellular and molecular markers of neurogenesis
Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of caffeine, the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances found in coffee, tea or soft drinks reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). While previous studies employing transgenic AD mouse models reported on reduced amyloid plaque load or an amelioration of behavioral deficits, there is only limited information on its potential effects on neurodegeneration. In the current study, we assessed whether long-term caffeine consumption affects hippocampal neuron loss and associated behavioral deficits in the Tg4-42 mouse model of AD. Treatment over a 4 months period reduced hippocampal neuron loss, rescued learning and memory deficits and ameliorates impaired neurogenesis. Neuron-specific hippocampal transcriptome analysis revealed an altered expression profile with an up-regulation of genes linked to synaptic function and processes, as well as neural progenitor proliferation. Treatment of 5xFAD mice with the same paradigm also rescued behavioral deficits, however, without affecting extracellular amyloid-beta (Abeta) levels or altered APP processing. Overall design: Examination of sorted neuronal gene expression in hippocampal CA neurons of caffeine-treated APP mice.