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A high fat, sugar, and salt Western diet induces motor-muscular and sensory dysfunctions and neurodegeneration in mice during aging: Ameliorative action of metformin.

CNS neuroscience & therapeutics
December 1, 2021
Song Hong et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman StudyAnimal Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (13)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedAgingAnimalsDiet, Carbohydrate LoadingDiet, High-FatDiet, WesternDisease Models, AnimalHumansHypoglycemic AgentsMaleMetforminMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeurodegenerative DiseasesNeuroinflammatory DiseasesSensorimotor CortexSodium Chloride, Dietary
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety20
Efficacy85/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations14
Citations/Year3.5
Relative Citation Ratio1.15
NIH Percentile55.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score1.22
Normalized Score0.57
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