Triheptanoin, an odd-medium-chain triglyceride, impacts brain cognitive function in young and aged mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Metabolic research
• Aging research

Background:

• Brain aging impairs cognitive functions like memory due to reduced glucose metabolism.
• Anaplerotic substrates can enhance mitochondrial ATP generation and are explored for neurological treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if improving oxidative capacity via diet ameliorates cognitive decline in adult and aged mice.
• To assess the effects of a ketogenic diet and triheptanoin supplementation on cognitive function and brain bioenergetics.

Main Methods:

• Adult and aged mice were fed a control diet, ketogenic diet (KD), or KD with triheptanoin for 12 weeks.
• Cognitive function was assessed using Y-maze and novel object recognition tests.
• Acetylcholinesterase activity and glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) expression were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The ketogenic diet alone reduced spontaneous alternation in aged mice and lowered acetylcholinesterase activity and GLUT3 expression in specific brain regions.
• Triheptanoin supplementation to the ketogenic diet prevented memory impairment in aged mice.
• Triheptanoin maintained acetylcholinesterase activity and GLUT3 expression levels comparable to controls.

Conclusions:

• Ketogenic diet alone may negatively impact cognitive function in aged brains.
• Triheptanoin supplementation shows potential in preserving cognitive function by supporting brain bioenergetic capacity.
• Triheptanoin may be a promising therapeutic agent for age-related cognitive decline.