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Combining an Antioxidant-Fortified Diet with Behavioral Enrichment Leads to Cognitive Improvement and Reduced Brain Pathology in Aging CaninesStrategies for Healthy Aging
ELIZABETH HEADa
a Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
Key Words: beta-amyloid • brain • dog • fruits • mitochondrial co-factors • neuron number • vegetables • vitamin E • vitamin C
Address for correspondence: Elizabeth Head, Ph.D., Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, Department of Neurology, University of California at Irvine, 1259 Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA 92697-4540. Voice: +949-824-8700; fax: +949-824-2071. ehead{at}uci.edu
The number of elderly individuals in our population is rapidly rising and age-associated neurodegenerative disease is becoming more prevalent. Thus, identifying ways by which we can promote healthy aging are becoming more critical. Lifestyle factors, such as engaging in physical, intellectual, and social activities, are protective against dementia in aged individuals. Similarly, there is some evidence to suggest that antioxidants are beneficial. Observational studies in humans have been confirmed and extended in rodent model systems. We present additional evidence that, in a canine model of aging, combining an antioxidant-enriched diet and behavioral enrichment (including social, physical, and cognitive components) can lead to substantial improvements in cognition and reduced brain pathology. These results suggest that modifying lifestyle factors can have a beneficial impact on the aging process, even in aged individuals with existing cognitive decline and brain pathology.
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