A high fat, sugar, and salt Western diet induces motor-muscular and sensory dysfunctions and neurodegeneration in mice during aging: Ameliorative action of metformin.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the link between a Western diet (high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt) and neurological dysfunctions during aging, as well as the potential neuroprotective effects of Metformin.
Results Summary
The study found that a Western diet caused motor-sensory dysfunctions, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration in aging mice, while Metformin treatment attenuated these adverse effects.
Population
C57BL/6 mice aged 20-22 months (equivalent to human aging from 56-68 years).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
2 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HFSS diet | decrease | decreased motor-muscular and sensory functions | C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | showed | #1 |
HFSS diet | decrease | inflammation-resolving Arg-1+ microglia | C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | reduced | #2 |
HFSS diet | increase | inflammatory iNOs+ microglia | C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | increased | #3 |
HFSS diet | increase | TNFα levels | C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | increased | #4 |
HFSS diet | increase | amyloid-β peptide | C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | enhanced abundance | #5 |
HFSS diet | increase | phosphorylated Tau | C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | enhanced abundance | #6 |
Metformin | decrease | these changes | HFSS-fed C57BL/6 mice during aging | - | attenuated | #7 |
HFSS-combined diet | increase | motor-muscular and sensory dysfunctions | mice during aging | - | caused | #8 |
HFSS-combined diet | increase | neuroinflammation | mice during aging | - | caused | #9 |
HFSS-combined diet | increase | neurodegeneration | mice during aging | - | caused | #10 |
metformin | decrease | these effects | HFSS-fed mice during aging | - | counteracted | #11 |
Metformin | decrease | the HFSS-related neuroinflammation | HFSS-fed mice during aging | - | curbs | #12 |
Metformin | increase | neuroprotection | HFSS-fed mice during aging | - | eliciting | #13 |
AIMS: To explore the novel linkage between a Western diet combining high saturated fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) and neurological dysfunctions during aging as well as Metformin intervention, we assessed cerebral cortex abnormalities associated with sensory and motor dysfunctions and cellular and molecular insights in brains using HFSS-fed mice during aging. We also explored the effect of Metformin treatment on these mice. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were fed with HFSS and treated with metformin from 20 to 22 months of age, resembling human aging from 56 to 68 years of age (an entry phase of the aged portion of lifespan). RESULTS: The motor and sensory cortexes in mice during aging after HFSS diet showed: (A) decreased motor-muscular and sensory functions; (B) reduced inflammation-resolving Arg-1+ microglia; (C) increased inflammatory iNOs+ microglia and TNFα levels; (D) enhanced abundance of amyloid-β peptide and of phosphorylated Tau. Metformin attenuated these changes. CONCLUSION: A HFSS-combined diet caused motor-muscular and sensory dysfunctions, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, whereas metformin counteracted these effects. Our findings show neuroinflammatory consequences of a HFSS diet in aging. Metformin curbs the HFSS-related neuroinflammation eliciting neuroprotection.