A high fat, sugar, and salt Western diet induces motor-muscular and sensory dysfunctions and neurodegeneration in mice during aging: Ameliorative action of metformin.

Aims: To explore the novel linkage between a Western diet combining high saturated fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) and neurological dysfunctions during aging as well as Metformin intervention, we assessed cerebral cortex abnormalities associated with sensory and motor dysfunctions and cellular and molecular insights in brains using HFSS-fed mice during aging. We also explored the effect of Metformin treatment on these mice.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were fed with HFSS and treated with metformin from 20 to 22 months of age, resembling human aging from 56 to 68 years of age (an entry phase of the aged portion of lifespan).

Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) Disrupt the Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Elevate Amyloid Pathology in the Brains of 5XFAD Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting 5.4 million people in the United States. Currently approved pharmacologic interventions for AD are limited to symptomatic improvement, not affecting the underlying pathology.

Characterization of Hit Compounds Identified from High-throughput Screening for their Effect on Blood-brain Barrier Integrity and Amyloid-β Clearance: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD) the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is compromised, thus therapeutic targeting of the BBB to enhance its integrity and function could be a unique approach to treat, slow or hold the progression of AD. Recently, we have developed an in vitro high-throughput screening assay to screen for compounds that increase the integrity of a cell-based BBB model. Results from primary screen identified multiple hit compounds that enhanced the monolayer integrity.

High-Throughput Screening for Identification of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Enhancers: A Drug Repurposing Opportunity to Rectify Vascular Amyloid Toxicity.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic interface that maintains brain homeostasis and protects it from free entry of chemicals, toxins, and drugs. The barrier function of the BBB is maintained mainly by capillary endothelial cells that physically separate brain from blood. Several neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are known to disrupt BBB integrity.

Amyloid-β and Astrocytes Interplay in Amyloid-β Related Disorders.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology is known to promote chronic inflammatory responses in the brain. It was thought previously that Aβ is only associated with Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. However, studies have shown its involvement in many other neurological disorders.