Prevention of aged-related memory deficits by vitamin A: impact on the glucocorticoid pathway

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Touyarot Katia

Nutrition and the Integrative Neurobiology laboratory, INRA UMR 1286, Bordeaux University, 33076 Bordeaux, France

: J Spine Neurosurg

Abstract

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Nowadays, both stress (or an excess of glucocorticoids (GC)-induced and age-induced cognitive dysfunctions are major public health issues. Interestingly, emerging studies bridging the gap between nutrition and mental health have resolutely established that memory abilities can be influenced by vitamin A status during aging. Indeed, a dysfunction of vitamin A signaling pathway has been involved in the appearance of age-related hippocampus-dependent memory deficits. Moreover, we have recently shown that vitamin A supplementation from middle-age enhances some hippocampus-dependent memory processes and improves adult hippocampal neurogenesis in rats but the mechanisms involved are still not well understood. Interestingly, it has recently emerged that vitamin A status modulates the production of GC at peripheral and hippocampal levels, and this antagonistic effect of vitamin A on GC signaling seems to contribute positively to the maintenance of memory and hippocampal plasticity processes. The main objective of this project is to assess the influence of inadequate vitamin A status (vitamin A deficiency model, aging) on GC pathway and more particularly on the regulation of the 11β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1), an enzyme that regenerates active GC within cells, and its consequences on hippocampusdependent memory and plasticity processes. In this context, a strategy of preventive nutrition during aging would attempt to avoid or delay evolution towards dementia and thus promote the maintenance of a satisfactory cognitive state in elderly subjects. Thus, these recent data on the mode of action of vitamin A are very interesting from the point of view of nutrition/ health.

Biography

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