Unraveling the effect of caloric restriction on gene expression in the choroid plexus and correlation with extracellular vesicle production and cognition in mouse models of age-related Alzheimer’ disease (1521317N)

Caloric restriction is the reduction of energy intake without causing undernutrition and combined with normal intake of vitamins, minerals and essential biomolecules. Dietary interventions such as caloric restriction have shown to slow down the aging process, benefit general health and improve memory in Alzheimer’ disease. Our research group conducted extensive study on the choroid plexus cells, an important structure that forms a barrier between the blood and cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Several choroid plexus related processes are severely affected during healthy aging and are aggravated in Alzheimer’ disease. However caloric restriction seems to have beneficial effects namely a reduction in inflammation, extracellular vesicle release into the CSF and amelioration of the observed memory decline in Alzheimer’ disease mouse models. This research projects aims at investigating how caloric restriction can affect the different choroid plexus epithelium cell processes in Alzheimer’ disease mouse models. To do so, we will study the transcriptome of mice on a calorie restricted diet compared to ad libitum fed mice. In addition, we will investigate the possible protective effect of caloric restriction on short and long term memory in different Alzheimer’ disease mouse models by performing behavioral tests. In summary this project will give novel insights into the mechanisms involved in the age-related disease of Alzheimer’ disease.