Animals engineered to model the decline in cognitive function and memory that occurs naturally in humans had improved spatial and object recognition when supplemented with OPCs for five weeks, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Researchers from the University of Toyama in Japan and Pusan National University in South Korea report that OPCs were associated with an increase in the densities of axons, dendrites and synapses in the brains of the animals, compared to control animals.
While cognitive function is known to decline naturally as we age, accelerated decline is associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Currently, about 12 million people in the US plus the EU suffer from Alzheimer's, with some estimates predicting this figure will have tripled by 2050. The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100 bn (€ 81 bn) in the US alone. The direct cost of Alzheimer care in the UK was estimated at £15 bn (€ 22 bn).
The researchers used mice with an increased rate of senescence as a model for age-related deficits in learning and memory in humans. Animals, supplemented with OPCs for five weeks, were tested using a Morris water maze, object location and object recognition tests.
The results showed that OPC-consuming animals had “improved spatial and object recognition impairment”, wrote the researchers.
Further study revealed that the compounds conferred a neuroprotective role in the brains of the animals.
“Elucidating the relationship between memory impairment with ageing and [protein] signalling may provide new suggestions for protection against memory deficit in the ageing brain,” reported the researchers.
Interest in brain health
Such is the interest in dietary approaches to improve brain health the world's largest food company, Nestlé, recently signalled its intention to get a head start on the competition with the signing of an agreement in November 2006 with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) to investigate the role of nutrition in cognitive function.
The agreement with the EPFL, Nestlé's largest collaboration with a university of research institute, will see the company contributing up to CHF 5 million (€ 3.1 million) every year for five years, with a review after four years to potentially extend the project further.
Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1017/S0007114509992005
“Oligomeric proanthocyanidins improve memory and enhance phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 in senescence-accelerated mouse prone/8”
Authors: Y.A. Lee, E.J. Cho, T. Yokozawa
Wanyama waliobuniwa kwa mfano wa kupungua kwa kazi ya utambuzi na kumbukumbu ambayo hutokea kwa asili kwa wanadamu walikuwa na utambuzi wa nafasi na kitu wakati wa kuongezwa na OPCs kwa wiki tano, kulingana na matokeo yaliyochapishwa katika Jarida la Briteni la Lishe. Watafiti kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Toyama nchini Japan na Chuo Kikuu cha Taifa cha Pusan nchini Korea Kusini waliripoti kuwa OPCs zilihusishwa na ongezeko la wiani wa axons, dendrites na synapses katika ubongo wa wanyama, ikilinganishwa na wanyama wa kudhibiti. Wakati kazi ya utambuzi inajulikana kupungua kwa asili kama sisi umri, kupungua kuharakishwa ni kuhusishwa na kuongezeka kwa hatari ya dementia na ugonjwa wa Alzheimer. Kwa sasa, karibu watu milioni 12 nchini Marekani na EU wanakabiliwa na ugonjwa wa Alzheimer, na baadhi ya makadirio yanatabiri idadi hii itakuwa imeongezeka mara tatu ifikapo 2050. Gharama za moja kwa moja na zisizo za moja kwa moja za huduma za Alzheimer zinazidi $ 100bn (€ 81bn) nchini Marekani pekee. Gharama ya moja kwa moja ya huduma ya Alzheimer nchini Uingereza ilikadiriwa kuwa £ 15bn (€ 22bn). Watafiti walitumia panya wenye kiwango cha juu cha uzee kama mfano wa upungufu unaohusiana na umri katika kujifunza na kumbukumbu kwa wanadamu. Wanyama waliotumiwa kwa OPC kwa wiki tano walipimwa kwa kutumia maze ya maji ya Morris, eneo la kitu na vipimo vya utambuzi wa kitu. Matokeo yalionyesha kwamba wanyama wanaotumia OPC walikuwa na "mabadiliko ya nafasi na udhaifu wa utambuzi wa kitu", waliandika watafiti. Uchunguzi zaidi ulifunua kwamba misombo hiyo ilitoa utendaji wa kulinda neva katika ubongo wa wanyama hao. "Kufafanua uhusiano kati ya kupungua kwa kumbukumbu na kuzeeka na ishara ya [protein] inaweza kutoa mapendekezo mapya ya ulinzi dhidi ya upungufu wa kumbukumbu katika ubongo wa kuzeeka", watafiti waliripoti. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala hii, ""Nestlé, kampuni kubwa ya chakula duniani, hivi karibuni ilionyesha nia yake ya kupata mwanzo wa ushindani kwa kusaini mkataba mnamo Novemba 2006 na Taasisi ya Teknolojia ya Shirikisho la Uswisi (EPFL) kuchunguza jukumu la lishe katika kazi ya utambuzi.""" Mkataba huo na EPFL, ushirikiano mkubwa wa Nestlé na taasisi ya utafiti ya chuo kikuu, utaona kampuni ikichangia hadi CHF 5 milioni kila mwaka kwa miaka mitano, na ukaguzi baada ya miaka minne ili kupanua mradi huo zaidi. "Kutokana na utafiti uliofanywa na British Journal of Nutrition, ""Oligomeric proanthocyanidins kuboresha kumbukumbu na kuongeza phosphorylation ya vascular endothelial ukuaji sababu receptor-2 katika senescence-kuongeza mtiririko panya"" (S&P, 2010)." Lee, E.J. Cho, T. Yokozawa