Dietary consumption of desert olive tree pearls reduces brain Aβ content and improves learning and memory ability in aged mice

Abstract

Recently, the number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has increased with aging of the population. Desert Olive Tree Pearls (DOTP), one of the olive oil products rich in functional compounds such as polyphenols is considered to have beneficial effect on neuronal activities. In this study, our study showed that pre-treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with DOTP ameliorated Aβ-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, the Morris water maze test indicated that DOTP improves learning and memory in aged mice. Also, DOTP induced a decrease in Aβ42 and inflammatory cytokine levels and increase in neurotransmitter levels in limbic system and serum of aged mice. These results suggest that DOTP may have anti-oxidative effects and decreased oxidative stress associated with overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in Aβ accumulations by aging, thus protecting neurons. Generally, the results of the present study suggest that DOTP is a promising dietary ingredient for improvement of cognitive function.

Keywords

• Desert Olive Tree Pearls
• Aging
• Spatial learning and memory
• Amyloid-β
• Neuroinflammation