As of the year 2020, it was estimated that around 5.8 million Americans were grappling with the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. However, a recent and groundbreaking research endeavor holds promise in shedding light on this affliction and possibly offering avenues for prevention. This study, spearheaded by researchers hailing from New York Medical College (NYMC) and Eastern Virginia Medical School, and published in the journal Nature Communications Biology, has uncovered a crucial connection between diet, inflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease, opening doors to potential intervention strategies.
“Inflammation within the brain plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The Western diet, notorious for its high fat and cholesterol content, can exacerbate this inflammatory response. We have identified that inhibiting a specific protein responsible for activating genes associated with inflammation can shield the brain from the adverse effects of the Western diet. This discovery presents an incredibly promising prospect of novel treatments that could potentially slow down or even halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” elucidated Patric Stanton, Ph.D., who serves as a professor of cell biology and anatomy, as well as neurology, at NYMC.
The study, supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, underscores the well-established link between diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Diabetes, in particular, is known to contribute to atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation, both believed to be triggers for Alzheimer’s in susceptible individuals. The Western diet is identified as a primary culprit in the development of metabolic issues.
Jerry Nadler, M.D., former dean of the School of Medicine, adjunct professor of pharmacology at NYMC, and associate chief of staff for research and development at the Northern California Veterans Health System, emphasizes the importance of unraveling the causes of early brain dysfunction, as it could lead to earlier diagnosis and improved care for patients.
The focal point of this research was the transcription factor known as STAT 4, which holds a significant role in activating inflammation within the body. The study revealed that when STAT4 remained active, prolonged consumption of a Western diet led to the emergence of a metabolic syndrome akin to diabetes, characterized by compromised glucose and insulin sensitivity—an early indicator of diabetes. However, in the case of genetically modified mice lacking STAT4 in their brains, they remained fully shielded from these effects even when exposed to the same diet, displaying reduced activation of various inflammatory genes within the brain.
One of the most intriguing findings from this study pertains to its impact on memory. The Western diet was observed to impair long-term synaptic activity-dependent plasticity, a critical process underlying memory formation. However, this detrimental effect on memory was circumvented when STAT4 was absent, pointing to a potential avenue for preserving cognitive function in individuals susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Zoomer Zest journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
