Cell Reports
Volume 25, Issue 8, 20 November 2018, Pages 2234-2243.e6
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Article
Comparing the Effects of Low-Protein and High-Carbohydrate Diets and Caloric Restriction on Brain Aging in Mice

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.070Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Calorie restriction (CR) and low-protein, high-carb (LPHC) diets improve health

  • Hippocampus RNA expression is positively influenced by CR and LPHC diets

  • Nutrient-sensing pathways are similarly influenced by CR and LPHC diets

  • CR and LPHC diets positively influence dendritic spines and cognitive function

Summary

Calorie restriction (CR) increases lifespan and improves brain health in mice. Ad libitum low-protein, high-carbohydrate (LPHC) diets also extend lifespan, but it is not known whether they are beneficial for brain health. We compared hippocampus biology and memory in mice subjected to 20% CR or provided ad libitum access to one of three LPHC diets or to a control diet. Patterns of RNA expression in the hippocampus of 15-month-old mice were similar between mice fed CR and LPHC diets when we looked at genes associated with longevity, cytokines, and dendrite morphogenesis. Nutrient-sensing proteins, including SIRT1, mTOR, and PGC1α, were also influenced by diet; however, the effects varied by sex. CR and LPHC diets were associated with increased dendritic spines in dentate gyrus neurons. Mice fed CR and LPHC diets had modest improvements in the Barnes maze and novel object recognition. LPHC diets recapitulate some of the benefits of CR on brain aging.

Keywords

calorie restriction
cognitive function
protein restriction
brain aging
hippocampus
cardiometabolic health

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