Time-Restricted Feeding Preserves Synaptic Function and Modulates Reelin and α-Synuclein in an Acute Amyloid-β Rat...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Dietary Interventions
• Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline and protein accumulation.
• Intermittent fasting (IF) is investigated for its potential to mitigate AD pathology.
• Reelin and alpha-synuclein are key proteins implicated in synaptic function and AD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of time-restricted feeding (TRF) and alternate-day fasting (ADF) in an Alzheimer's disease rat model.
• To assess the impact of IF on cognitive function, reelin, and alpha-synuclein levels in AD rats.

Main Methods:

• Six groups of rats were used: Control (Ctrl) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) models.
• AD was induced via intracerebroventricular (ICV) Aβ injections.
• Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris Water Maze (MWM); reelin and alpha-synuclein were quantified via ELISA.

Main Results:

• TRF significantly improved cognitive function in AD rats compared to ADF, evidenced by reduced latency and path length in the MWM.
• Both TRF and ADF increased reelin levels and neuronal firing rates.
• Only TRF significantly decreased alpha-synuclein levels in AD rats.

Conclusions:

• Time-restricted feeding (TRF) demonstrates superior efficacy over alternate-day fasting (ADF) in ameliorating cognitive deficits in an Alzheimer's disease model.
• TRF may exert neuroprotective effects by enhancing spatial memory and reducing alpha-synuclein accumulation, potentially via synaptic plasticity mechanisms.