Sex-Specific Effects of High-Fat and Ketogenic Diets on Cognition and Hippocampal Neurogenesis in C57B16/J Mice
Abstract
Poor diet and metabolic diseases (obesity, Type 2 diabetes), are associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Previous studies suggest that high-fat diet results in sex-specific effects in mice, including adult hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and performance on cognitive-behavioral tasks. The ketogenic diet, a popular weight loss regimen, is characterized by a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. Under carbohydrate restriction, the body enters ketosis, producing ketones bodies as a source of energy. While the ketogenic diet is very high in fat content, it may also possess neuroprotective properties against brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as boost mood and cognitive function in young individuals. Further research on the effects of the ketogenic diet remains to be explored in a sex-specific manner. Additionally, most recent research using animal models has generally used a rigorous ketogenic diet, not translationally relevant (nearly 0% carbohydrates). Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the effects of both a high-fat and a translationally relevant ketogenic diet to a low-fat control diet in adult male and female mice. Evidence from data collected thus far suggests that high fat diet results in significant weight gain and pre-diabetes, impaired spatial memory, and attenuated hippocampal neurogenesis. Conversely, ketogenic diet improved long-term spatial memory particularly in males. These findings demonstrate the relative safety of ketogenic diet compared to high fat diet with some benefits of keto diet being sex-specific.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Lisa Robinson, Dr. Robert Speth
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2023 4:00 PM
Sex-Specific Effects of High-Fat and Ketogenic Diets on Cognition and Hippocampal Neurogenesis in C57B16/J Mice
Alvin Sherman Library
Poor diet and metabolic diseases (obesity, Type 2 diabetes), are associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Previous studies suggest that high-fat diet results in sex-specific effects in mice, including adult hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and performance on cognitive-behavioral tasks. The ketogenic diet, a popular weight loss regimen, is characterized by a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. Under carbohydrate restriction, the body enters ketosis, producing ketones bodies as a source of energy. While the ketogenic diet is very high in fat content, it may also possess neuroprotective properties against brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as boost mood and cognitive function in young individuals. Further research on the effects of the ketogenic diet remains to be explored in a sex-specific manner. Additionally, most recent research using animal models has generally used a rigorous ketogenic diet, not translationally relevant (nearly 0% carbohydrates). Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare the effects of both a high-fat and a translationally relevant ketogenic diet to a low-fat control diet in adult male and female mice. Evidence from data collected thus far suggests that high fat diet results in significant weight gain and pre-diabetes, impaired spatial memory, and attenuated hippocampal neurogenesis. Conversely, ketogenic diet improved long-term spatial memory particularly in males. These findings demonstrate the relative safety of ketogenic diet compared to high fat diet with some benefits of keto diet being sex-specific.
