Project Number: 1950-51000-070-13
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Jan 03, 2006
End Date: Dec 31, 2009

Objective:
Aim 1: Continue to determine the effects of BB supplementation on behavioral aging using paradigms sensitive to: motor (probes sensitive to balance, strength, coordination) and cognitive (short- and long-term memories) behaviors. Aim 2: Determine the effects of BB supplementation on signaling and neurogenesis and correlate these with alterations in behavioral parameters determined in SA1. Aim 3: Since there is compelling evidence to suggest that controlling inflammation may be the key mitigating the neurodegenerative diseases, we will determine the mechanisms involved in the anti-flammatory/antioxidant activity of BB in cells.

Approach:
While the mechanism(s) linking aging, inflammation and oxidative stress to cognitive and motor dysfunction are not fully understood, it is acknowledged that a complex pattern of sequential signal transduction and gene expression is involved. Thus, in addition to the other mechanistic parameters given above, we will also characterize the age-induced neurodegenerative processes in response to BB supplementation at the level of gene transcription. Additionally, we will determine the effect of BB extract on the generality and magnitude of the behavioral effects by further molecular behavioral analyses. Importantly, to accomplish this, we will utilize a ¿top-down¿ approach by continuing to assess the specificity of the reduction in motor and cognitive behavioral deficits on various tasks and then to more reductionistic analyses to determine the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of BBS. Recently, it appears that inflammation may be the primary culprit in the continued neurodegeneration seen in diseases such as Alzheimer¿s and Parkinson¿s disease.