Abstract
With the rapid increase in aging populations worldwide, there has been an increase in demand for preventive and therapeutic measures for age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Epidemiological studies show that consumption of dairy products reduces the risk for cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly. We have previously demonstrated in randomized trials that the consumption of β-lactolin, a whey-derived Gly-Thr-Trp-Tyr lactotetrapeptide, improves cognitive function in older adults. Orally administered β-lactolin is delivered to the brain and inhibits monoamine oxidase, resulting in alleviation of memory impairment. However, there is currently no evidence of the effects of long-term β-lactolin intake on aging. Here, we found that the discrimination index in the novel object recognition test for object recognition memory was reduced in mice aged 20 months compared with that in young mice, indicating that age-related cognitive decline was induced in the aged mice; in aged mice fed β-lactolin for 3 months, memory impairment was subsequently alleviated. In aged mice, impairment of light/dark activity cycles was found to be induced, which was subsequently alleviated by β-lactolin consumption. Additionally, the number of activated microglia in the hippocampus and cortex and the production of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1) were increased in aged mice compared with those in young mice but were reduced in aged mice fed β-lactolin. The age-related hippocampal atrophy was improved in aged mice fed β-lactolin. Cytochrome c levels in the hippocampus and cortex were increased in aged mice compared with those in young mice but were also reduced by β-lactolin consumption. These results suggest that β-lactolin consumption prevents neural inflammation and alleviates aging-related cognitive decline.
Highlights
Accompanying the rapid growth of aging populations worldwide, the increasing burden of agerelated cognitive impairment falls on patients and their families and on national healthcare systems
To evaluate the effects of β-lactolin and whey peptide rich in β-lactolin on memory impairment in aged mice, we fed mice aged 8 weeks and 65 weeks a diet containing β-lactolin or whey peptide for 3 months and subjected them to behavioral memory evaluations using the novel object recognition test (NORT)
Our study demonstrated that the consumption of β-lactolin or whey peptide rich in β-lactolin reduced age-related inflammation in the brain and improved memory impairment associated with aging
Summary
Accompanying the rapid growth of aging populations worldwide, the increasing burden of agerelated cognitive impairment falls on patients and their families and on national healthcare systems. It is suggested that this volume loss is attributed to neuronal loss associated with aging, which changes the structure and function of β-Lactolin Reduces Age-Related Cognitive Decline synapses and neuronal networks [5]. These changes in the brain are associated with age-related cognitive decline, such as memory and executive function impairment. Recent studies show that age-related increases in inflammation are associated with cognitive decline [6]. It is reported that age-related changed microglia in the aged brain shows the pro-inflammatory phenotype and reduce the protective function for neuron [7]. It has been reported that the risk for cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly is associated with individual lifestyle [8]; preventive approaches to cognitive decline, including dietary changes, have received increasing attention
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