Molecular observation of the synergistic contributions of diet and exercise to the metabolic changes induced by these neuroprotective therapeutic approaches

Disorders, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, have metabolic profiles that are detrimentally affected by the course of the disease. Both diet and exercise have demonstrated an ability to slow the progression of neurodegenerative illnesses and their symptoms. We hypothesize that this benefit is a direct result of an increase in the brains ability to efficiently metabolize both glucose and alternative substrates, brought upon by a change in either diet, exercise or both. We estimate that diet and exercise will protect against the typical decline in metabolite transport and metabolism observed both in normal aging and pathological states. This will be examined by quantifying the changes in various transport systems and enzymes crucial to various metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation. These changes will be observed in normally aging mice and subsequently compared to observations in pathological conditions such as models of Alzheimer’s, diabetes and chronic malnutrition.

Faculty Supervisor:

Claude Messier

Student:

Partner:

Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Globalink Research Award