Long-term d-allose administration ameliorates age-related cognitive impairment and loss of bone strength in male mice

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 196; p. 112555
• Main Authors: Shintani, Tomoya, Yanai, Shuichi, Kanasaki, Akane, Iida, Tetsuo, Endo, Shogo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 15.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Behavioral experiments; Bone; d-Allose; Learning; Memory; Rare sugars; Rare sugars; Learning; Bone; d-Allose; Behavioral experiments; Memory
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112555

Age-related physical and cognitive decline may be ameliorated by consuming functional foods. d-Allose, reported to have multiple health benefits, may temper aging phenotypes, particularly brain function. We investigated whether d-allose supplementation improves cognitive function. A standard battery of behavioral tests was administered to 18-month-old male mice after consuming diet containing 3 % d-allose for 6 months. Following a wire-hanging test, an open-field test, Morris water maze, fear-conditioning, and an analgesia test were sequentially performed. Bone density and strength were assessed afterwards. Possible mechanism(s) under-lying memory changes in hippocampus were also examined with a DNA microarray. d-Allose failed to influence muscle strength, locomotor activity and anxiety, fear memory, or pain sensitivity. However, d-allose improved hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory, and it may contribute to increase bone strength. d-Allose also changed the expression of some genes in hippocampus involved in cognitive functions. Long-term d-allose supplementation appears to modestly change aging phenotypes and improve spatial memory. •Rare sugar d-Allose, a C-3 epimer of d-glucose, is expected to be a novel functional food.•D-Allose delayed age-related memory decline by altering hippocampal gene expression.•D-Allose reduced the loss of bone strength with aging.•D-Allose could help to prevent cognitive and physiological decline.