Source: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE submitted to
THE EFFECTS OF RASPBERRIES ON COGNITION AND NEURONAL COMMUNICATION IN AGING: MECHANISTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Sponsoring Institution
Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0413145
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2008
Project End Date
Jul 31, 2010
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Project Director
JOSEPH J A
Recipient Organization
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
(N/A)
BOSTON,MA 02111
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
0%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
70260101010100%
Goals / Objectives
Phase I Objective 1: (a) Establish the effects of dietary berryfruit extracts and the most effective component polyphenolics on neuronal function in aging by determining the effects on motor and cognitive behaviors as a function of age. Phase II To be funded only if Phase I is deemed successful (b) Identify brain regional localization of berryfruit compounds and correlating the amounts seen with the behavioral performance, and (c) Determine their effects on signaling and the generation of new neurons in aging.
Project Methods
Phase I Aim 1: Determine the effects of RB supplementation on behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to cognitive (short- and long-term memories) behaviors. The effects of RB dietary supplementation (2% RB extract in the diet for 8 weeks as described below). After 8 weeks performance will be examined in the rats age-sensitive cognitive behaviors that are selective for reference and working memories. The latter behaviors will be assessed using the Morris water maze and the radial arm water maze, as well as novelty tests. All of these tests have been validated as being age sensitive (e.g. demonstrated a significant decline as a function of age).

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Phase I Objective 1: (a) Establish the effects of dietary berryfruit extracts and the most effective component polyphenolics on neuronal function in aging by determining the effects on motor and cognitive behaviors as a function of age. Phase II To be funded only if Phase I is deemed successful (b) Identify brain regional localization of berryfruit compounds and correlating the amounts seen with the behavioral performance, and (c) Determine their effects on signaling and the generation of new neurons in aging. Approach (from AD-416) Phase I Aim 1: Determine the effects of RB supplementation on behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to cognitive (short- and long-term memories) behaviors. The effects of RB dietary supplementation (2% RB extract in the diet for 8 weeks as described below). After 8 weeks performance will be examined in the rats age-sensitive cognitive behaviors that are selective for reference and working memories. The latter behaviors will be assessed using the Morris water maze and the radial arm water maze, as well as novelty tests. All of these tests have been validated as being age sensitive (e.g. demonstrated a significant decline as a function of age). In this effort the effects of raspberry dietary supplementation (2% blackberry extract in the diet for 8 weeks) were examined. Aged rats show decrements in performance on motor and cognitive tasks that require the use of spatial learning and memory. In previous studies, we have shown the beneficial effects of various berry fruits (blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries) for their effectiveness in reversing age-related deficits in behavioral and neuronal function when fed to rats from 19-21 months of age. Red raspberries contain polyphenols similar to those found in other berry fruits, particularly anthocyanins and hydrolyzable tannins (ellagitannins and gallotannins), but not condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins). Thus, the present studies were carried out to determine if red raspberries, fed in the rat diet at 2% for 8 weeks, would be efficacious in reversing the deleterious effects of aging on motor and cognitive behavior in 19 mo Fischer 344 rats. Results for the motor testing showed that the 2% raspberry diet improved performance on rod walking, medium plank walking, and the inclined screen. There was no improvement seen in cognition with the raspberry diet on either latency or distance to find the platform in the Morris water maze. We plan to submit a manuscript detailing these results this year.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications


    Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

    Outputs
    Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Phase I Objective 1: (a) Establish the effects of dietary berryfruit extracts and the most effective component polyphenolics on neuronal function in aging by determining the effects on motor and cognitive behaviors as a function of age. Phase II To be funded only if Phase I is deemed successful (b) Identify brain regional localization of berryfruit compounds and correlating the amounts seen with the behavioral performance, and (c) Determine their effects on signaling and the generation of new neurons in aging. Approach (from AD-416) Phase I Aim 1: Determine the effects of RB supplementation on behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to cognitive (short- and long-term memories) behaviors. The effects of RB dietary supplementation (2% RB extract in the diet for 8 weeks as described below). After 8 weeks performance will be examined in the rats age-sensitive cognitive behaviors that are selective for reference and working memories. The latter behaviors will be assessed using the Morris water maze and the radial arm water maze, as well as novelty tests. All of these tests have been validated as being age sensitive (e.g. demonstrated a significant decline as a function of age). In this effort the effects of raspberry dietary supplementation (2% blackberry extract in the diet for 8 weeks) were examined. Aged rats show decrements in performance on motor and cognitive tasks that require the use of spatial learning and memory. In previous studies, we have shown the beneficial effects of various berry fruits (blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries) for their effectiveness in reversing age-related deficits in behavioral and neuronal function when fed to rats from 19-21 months of age. Red raspberries contain polyphenols similar to those found in other berry fruits, particularly anthocyanins and hydrolyzable tannins (ellagitannins and gallotannins), but not condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins). Thus, the present studies were carried out to determine if red raspberries, fed in the rat diet at 2% for 8 weeks, would be efficacious in reversing the deleterious effects of aging on motor and cognitive behavior in 19 mo Fischer 344 rats. Results for the motor testing showed that the 2% raspberry diet improved performance on rod walking, medium plank walking, and the inclined screen. There was no improvement seen in cognition with the raspberry diet on either latency or distance to find the platform in the Morris water maze. We are currently assessing whether alterations in stress signaling may be involved in the mechanisms of action through which the berry polyphenols could be producing their effects and writing a manuscript on these results. Monitoring of this project is accomplished through e-mail and/or teleconference.

    Impacts
    (N/A)

    Publications


      Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

      Outputs
      Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Phase I Objective 1: (a) Establish the effects of dietary berryfruit extracts and the most effective component polyphenolics on neuronal function in aging by determining the effects on motor and cognitive behaviors as a function of age. Phase II To be funded only if Phase I is deemed successful (b) Identify brain regional localization of berryfruit compounds and correlating the amounts seen with the behavioral performance, and (c) Determine their effects on signaling and the generation of new neurons in aging. Approach (from AD-416) Phase I Aim 1: Determine the effects of RB supplementation on behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to cognitive (short- and long-term memories) behaviors. The effects of RB dietary supplementation (2% RB extract in the diet for 8 weeks as described below). After 8 weeks performance will be examined in the rats age-sensitive cognitive behaviors that are selective for reference and working memories. The latter behaviors will be assessed using the Morris water maze and the radial arm water maze, as well as novelty tests. All of these tests have been validated as being age sensitive (e.g. demonstrated a significant decline as a function of age). Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations In this effort the effects of raspberry dietary supplementation (2% blackberry extract in the diet for 8 weeks) were examined. Aged rats show decrements in performance on motor and cognitive tasks that require the use of spatial learning and memory. In previous studies, we have shown the beneficial effects of various berry fruits (blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries) for their effectiveness in reversing age-related deficits in behavioral and neuronal function when fed to rats from 19-21 months of age. Red raspberries contain polyphenols similar to those found in other berry fruits, particularly anthocyanins and hydrolyzable tannins (ellagitannins and gallotannins), but not condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins). Thus, the present studies were carried out to determine if red raspberries, fed in the rat diet at 2% for 8 weeks, would be efficacious in reversing the deleterious effects of aging on motor and cognitive behavior in 19 mo Fischer 344 rats. Results for the motor testing showed that the 2% raspberry diet improved performance on rod walking, medium plank walking, and the inclined screen. There was no improvement seen in cognition with the raspberry diet on either latency or distance to find the platform in the Morris water maze. We are currently assessing whether alterations in stress signaling may be involved in the mechanisms of action through which the berry polyphenols could be producing their effects.

      Impacts
      (N/A)

      Publications