Early intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids preserves brain structure and function in diet-induced obesity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Metabolic Science
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Rising global obesity rates, particularly in children, raise concerns about physical, psychosocial, and cognitive health.
• Early dietary interventions may mitigate long-term health consequences of obesogenic environments.
• Arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are crucial for brain development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of early dietary ARA and DHA on cognitive function and brain structure in a mouse model of mild obesity.
• To assess the long-term effects of early nutrition on metabolic and cerebrovascular health when exposed to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diet.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the ApoE*3Leiden mouse model, a model for mild obesity.
• Administered diets during early development (4-13 weeks) and assessed outcomes after subsequent HFHC diet exposure (14-26 weeks).
• Employed cognitive tests and neuroimaging techniques to evaluate brain structure and function.

Main Results:

• HFHC diet induced increased adiposity, altered lipid profiles, elevated cerebral blood flow, and reduced brain connectivity and integrity.
• Early ARA and DHA supplementation counteracted HFHC-induced weight gain and triglyceride increases.
• Dietary ARA and DHA improved cerebrovasculature, gray matter integrity, and functional brain connectivity in later life.

Conclusions:

• A HFHC diet negatively impacts brain structure and metabolic health.
• Early life dietary intake of ARA and DHA can avert detrimental adaptations caused by obesogenic diets.
• ARA and DHA supplementation supports metabolic flexibility and preserves cerebral integrity throughout life.