Extra Virgin Olive Oil Improves Learning and Memory in SAMP8 Mice

Author

Nuran Ercal, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Susan A. Farr
Tulin O. Price
Ligia J. Dominguez
Antonio Motisi
Filippo Saiano
Michael L. Niehoff
William A. Banks
John E. Morley
Mario Barbagallo

Abstract

Polyphenols are potent antioxidants found in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO); antioxidants have been shown to reverse age- and disease-related learning and memory deficits. We examined the effects of EVOO on learning and memory in SAMP8 mice, an age-related learning/memory impairment model associated with increased amyloid-β protein and brain oxidative damage. We administered EVOO, coconut oil, or butter to 11 month old SAMP8 mice for 6 weeks. Mice were tested in T-maze foot shock avoidance and one-trial novel object recognition with a 24 h delay. Mice which received EVOO had improved acquisition in the T-maze and spent more time with the novel object in one-trial novel object recognition versus mice which received coconut oil or butter. Mice that received EVOO had improve T-maze retention compared to the mice that received butter. EVOO increased brain glutathione levels suggesting reduced oxidative stress as a possible mechanism. These effects plus increased glutathione reductase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased tissue levels of 4-hydroxynoneal and 3-nitrotyrosine were enhanced with enriched EVOO (3 × and 5 × polyphenols concentration). Our findings suggest that EVOO has beneficial effects on learning and memory deficits found in aging and diseases, such as those related to the overproduction of amyloid-β protein, by reversing oxidative damage in the brain, effects that are augmented with increasing concentrations of polyphenols in EVOO.

Recommended Citation

N. Ercal and S. A. Farr and T. O. Price and L. J. Dominguez and A. Motisi and F. Saiano and M. L. Niehoff and W. A. Banks and J. E. Morley and M. Barbagallo, "Extra Virgin Olive Oil Improves Learning and Memory in SAMP8 Mice," Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, IOS Press, Jan 2012.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-2011-110662

Department(s)

Chemistry

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1387-2877

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2012 IOS Press, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2012