The Effect of IMS on Cognitive and Behavioral Abilities of mutant Drosophila, causing Neuroplasticity

Abstract

The goal of this experiment was to determine the effect of the Intermediate Metabolic Switching (IMS) diet on the short and long-term memory of mutant Drosophila due to neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity creates new neural networks and can be measured in ketone count. The IMS diet includes two components: fasting and a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. The Phenol-Sulfuric Acid Test and the Hanus Iodine Solution Test were both used to quantify two ratios, a 2:2 ratio carbs to fats, and the 4:1 ratio fats to carbs. It was hypothesized that if fruit flies are fed the IMS diet, leading to plasticity, then their overall memory and behavioral health will increase because of the amount of ketones released, increasing memory formation. Mutant Drosophila tested, which lacked the Amyloid-Precursor Protein-like gene (APPL), exhibited similarities to early-stage Alzheimer's patients. Assays include the Aversive Phototaxic Suppression Assay to measure short term memory, the Aversive Pavlovian Olfactory Assay to measure long-term memory, the Drosophila Activity Monitor software to track movement of Drosophila, the Drosophila Stress Odorent (dSO) Assay to measure mood changes, and the ß-Hydroxybutyrate Ketone Quantification assay to measure ketone levels and ensure the IMS diet worked. Results were all conclusive, establishing that the flies in the 4:1 diet were more sensitive but retain short and long term memory, showing IMS could be used as a preventative mechanism for Alzheimer’s.