Researchers at the University Rovira i Virgili (URV) have identified the mechanism connecting a diet rich in saturated fats with Alzheimer’s disease. Led by Mònica Bulló, a professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and a member of the Metabolic Health and Nutrition unit at URV’s TecnATox, in collaboration with the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV), CIBERobn, and the University of Barcelona, the study focuses on molecules in blood and brain tissues that serve as markers and regulators of Alzheimer’s.
Unlike previous studies, which focused on mouse models predisposed to Alzheimer’s and showed accelerated disease onset after consuming a high-saturated fat diet, this research took a unique approach. It examined 15 miRNAs, small RNA molecules crucial for genetic regulation, in these mice’s plasma and brain tissues, revealing previously unknown underlying mechanisms.
Results indicated metabolic deterioration after six months on the diet, including significant weight gain and reduced response to glucose and insulin, akin to characteristics seen in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, alterations in miRNA expression were observed in blood and brain tissues, correlating with processes such as β-amyloid plaque accumulation, tau protein overproduction, and brain inflammation—hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
Mònica Bulló highlighted the study’s implications: “These findings not only advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and its relationship with obesity and type 2 diabetes but also provide a roadmap for future research. They offer potential targets for disease prevention and treatment, and shed light on how high-fat diets impact brain health, suggesting avenues for future research into dietary strategies for Alzheimer’s treatment. This underscores the role of balanced nutrition in preventing neurodegenerative diseases and identifies miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets.”
More information: Melina Rojas-Criollo et al, Effects of a High-Fat Diet on Insulin-Related miRNAs in Plasma and Brain Tissue in APPSwe/PS1dE9 and Wild-Type C57BL/6J Mice, Nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/nu16070955
Journal information: Nutrients Provided by Universitat Rovira i Virgili
