Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2011 Jan;31(1):83-91. doi: 10.1007/s10571-010-9557-1. Epub 2010 Dec 18.
As our population ages, diseases affecting memory and daily functioning will affect an increasing number of individuals, their families and the healthcare system. Therefore, there is a need to study and evaluate effects of certain conditions for anti-aging of the brain. Nutrient supplementation can modify the brain function. The chemistry and function of both the developing and the mature brain are influenced by diet (Fernstrom, Am J Clinical Nutrition 71:1669S-1673S, 2000). Clinical, biochemical, and pathological aspects have shown a correlation between mental symptoms, especially depression and cognitive decline, with high incidence of folate deficiency (Bottiglieri et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 69:562, 2000). In the present study, consequences of folic acid supplementation on brain dysfunction as a result of aging were studied in cerebral cortex, mid brain, and cerebellar regions of rat brain. This study was carried out on 6-, 11-, and 16-month-old rats, which received folic acid at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight/day for a period of 8 weeks. Respective control groups of the same age groups were also taken. At the end of the treatment duration, behavioral studies were performed and later the animals were killed for various biochemical and histological investigations. Results indicated significant improvement in memory as assessed by active avoidance, passive avoidance, and plus maze tests in the folic acid supplemented aged animals. Significant improvement was also seen in the cellular protective mechanisms where by the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes increased in folic acid supplemented group and so was the glutathione content. Increased lipid peroxidation content, a marker of aging, was also found to be decreased during folic acid supplementation in all the three regions of brain in our study. Thus, it can be concluded that folic acid helps in improving the memory status by reducing oxidative stress and maintaining the integrity of neurons during aging.
随着人口老龄化，影响记忆和日常功能的疾病将影响越来越多的个人、他们的家庭和医疗保健系统。因此，有必要研究和评估某些条件对大脑抗衰老的影响。营养补充可以改变大脑功能。饮食影响着发育中和成熟中的大脑的化学和功能（Fernstrom，Am J Clinical Nutrition 71：1669S-1673S，2000）。临床、生化和病理学方面表明，精神症状，特别是抑郁和认知能力下降，与叶酸缺乏症的高发病率之间存在相关性（Bottiglieri 等人，J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 69：562，2000）。在本研究中，研究了叶酸补充对衰老导致的大脑功能障碍的影响，研究对象是大脑皮质、中脑和小脑区域的大鼠。这项研究是在 6、11 和 16 月龄的大鼠中进行的，这些大鼠每天接受 5mg/kg 体重的叶酸剂量，持续 8 周。同时还设立了相同年龄组的相应对照组。在治疗结束时，进行了行为研究，然后处死动物进行各种生化和组织学研究。结果表明，在叶酸补充的老年动物中，主动回避、被动回避和加迷宫测试的记忆能力显著改善。细胞保护机制也有显著改善，超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶的活性增加，谷胱甘肽含量也增加。在我们的研究中，还发现，增加的脂质过氧化产物含量（衰老的标志物）在叶酸补充组中也减少。因此，可以得出结论，叶酸通过减少氧化应激和维持衰老过程中神经元的完整性来帮助改善记忆状态。
