Protein restriction slows the development and progression of pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Reji BabygirijaMichelle M SonsallaJericha MillIsabella JamesJessica H HanCara L GreenMariah F CalubagGina WadeAnna TobonJohn MichaelMichaela M TrautmanRyan MatoskaChung-Yang YehIsaac GrunowHeidi H PakMichael J RigbyDominique A BaldwinNatalie M NiemiJohn M DenuLuigi PuglielliJudith A SimcoxDudley W LammingPublished in: Nature communications (2024)
Dietary protein is a critical regulator of metabolic health and aging. Low protein diets are associated with healthy aging in humans, and dietary protein restriction extends the lifespan and healthspan of mice. In this study, we examined the effect of protein restriction (PR) on metabolic health and the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the 3xTg mouse model of AD. Here, we show that PR promotes leanness and glycemic control in 3xTg mice, specifically rescuing the glucose intolerance of 3xTg females. PR induces sex-specific alterations in circulating and brain metabolites, downregulating sphingolipid subclasses in 3xTg females. PR also reduces AD pathology and mTORC1 activity, increases autophagy, and improves the cognition of 3xTg mice. Finally, PR improves the survival of 3xTg mice. Our results suggest that PR or pharmaceutical interventions that mimic the effects of this diet may hold promise as a treatment for AD.
Keyphrases
- mouse model
- protein protein
- healthcare
- high fat diet induced
- public health
- glycemic control
- binding protein
- amino acid
- mental health
- physical activity
- weight loss
- small molecule
- blood glucose
- white matter
- climate change
- cognitive decline
- machine learning
- metabolic syndrome
- blood pressure
- brain injury
- skeletal muscle
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- artificial intelligence
- social media
- blood brain barrier
- cerebral ischemia
- combination therapy