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Investigators led by Dr. Nancy Berman of the University of Kansas, Schoolof Medicine presented evidence from a study of aging mice that compared theeffects of a diet with and without grapes. Dr. Berman shared her findingsregarding the ability of a grape-enriched diet to dramatically increase theexpression of critical target genes that block the Alzheimer's pathway anddecrease inflammation in the brain. Alzheimer's is characterized by theformation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. Additionally, oxidative stressand inflammation are thought to play a role in facilitating neurodegenerativedisease.
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The data presented by Dr. Berman showed that a grape-enriched diet induceda 246-fold increase in the expression of transthyretin, a beta-amyloidscavenger known to reduce plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease.Additionally, the researchers observed significant inhibition of a gene thatis involved in the inflammation that occurs in normal aging and appears to beaccelerated in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.
These results suggest that regular consumption of grapes may be beneficialfor long-term brain health, specifically the prevention of Alzheimer'sdisease.
"Preserving brain health is a key concern as we age," said Kathleen Nave,president of the California Table Grape Commission. "The growing evidence thateating grapes each day may help protect against degenerative brain diseasessuch as Alzheimer's is very exciting."
The Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting is the premier venue for theworld's neuroscientists to debut their cutting edge research to more than31,000 neuroscientists and exhibitors from around the world. The meetingoffers learning and professional development opportunities and provides aplace for scientists to gather to present and share ideas.
SOURCE Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
