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Stroke Induces a BDNF-Dependent Improvement in Cognitive Flexibility in Aged Mice
Josh Houlton1, Lisa Y Y Zhou1, Deanna Barwick1
1Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre and Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
Neural Plasticity
|June 14, 2019
Summary
Aged mice show improved cognitive recovery after stroke, potentially due to a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mediated critical window. This contrasts with young mice, who show no cognitive deficits post-stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Stroke Research
Background:
- Stroke is a major cause of global disability, often leading to cognitive deficits.
- Age significantly influences stroke recovery, with aged brains exhibiting different profiles.
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels decrease with age, potentially impacting cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in cognitive recovery after stroke.
- To explore the role of BDNF in age-dependent post-stroke cognitive changes.
- To establish and utilize a novel animal model for studying delayed cognitive impairment.
Main Methods:
- Young and aged mice underwent a visual discrimination task.
- A photothrombotic stroke model induced bilateral prefrontal cortex lesions.
- Aged stroke mice received TrkB-Fc (BDNF decoy) treatment to assess BDNF's role.
- Cognitive function was assessed using reversal and rereversal learning tasks.
Main Results:
- Aged mice showed impaired reversal learning compared to young controls.
- Stroke in aged mice unexpectedly improved reversal learning, an effect reduced by TrkB-Fc.
- Aged stroke mice learned reversal tasks faster than aged sham controls, with BDNF decoy dampening this effect.
Conclusions:
- Significant age-related differences exist in post-stroke cognitive recovery.
- Stroke may reopen a critical window for cognitive recovery in aged brains, mediated by BDNF.
- Targeting BDNF pathways could offer therapeutic strategies for stroke recovery in the elderly.
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