Rapid and reversible impairment of episodic memory by a high-fat diet in mice.

Fiona H. McLean (Lead / Corresponding author), Christine Grant, Amanda C. Morris, Graham W. Horgan, Alex J. Polanski, Kevin Allan, Fiona M. Campbell, Rosamund F. Langston, Lynda M. Williams

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    66 Citations (Scopus)
    212 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with no cure and only limited treatment available. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are positively associated with the development of premature cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, linking diet with these conditions. Here we demonstrate that in mice episodic memory, together with spatial and contextual associative memory, is compromised after only one day of high-fat diet. However, object memory remains intact. This shows not only a more rapid effect than previously reported but also that more complex memories are at higher risk of being compromised by a high-fat diet. In addition, we show that these memory deficits are rapidly reversed by switching mice from a high-fat diet back to a low-fat diet. These findings have important implications for the contribution of nutrition to the development of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number11976
    Pages (from-to)1-9
    Number of pages9
    JournalScientific Reports
    Volume8
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 10 Aug 2018

    Keywords

    • High-fat diet
    • obesity
    • mice
    • episodic memory
    • Alzheimer’s disease

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