C57BL/6 mice as a preclinical model to study age-related cognitive deficits: Executive functions impairment and inter-individual differences.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize age-related deficits of mice using different behavioral endpoints, with a focus on executive function and performance heterogeneity.

Methods: 2 month-old and 18 month-old C57BL/6J mice were tested in the novelty-based spatial preference Y-maze test and in sequential tasks in the Morris water maze test (reference memory, reversal learning and working memory), before being evaluated for motor skills in the activity meter and accelerating rotarod tests.

Results: Aged mice displayed an almost normal acquisition in the water maze test, however, difficulties were observed in ability to perform reversal learning and working memory tasks.