Researchers: David Porquet, Gemma Casadesús, Sergi Bayod, Alberto Vicente, Anna M Canudas, Jordi Vilaplana, Carme Pelegrí, Coral Sanfeliu, Antoni Camins, Mercè Pallàs, Jaume del Valle
Resveratrol is a polyphenol that is mainly found in grapes and red wine and has been reported to be a caloric restriction (CR) mimetic driven by Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activation. Resveratrol increases metabolic rate, insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial biogenesis and physical endurance, and reduces fat accumulation in mice. In addition, resveratrol may be a powerful agent to prevent age-associated neurodegeneration and to improve cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Moreover, different findings support the view that longevity in mice could be promoted by CR. In this study, we examined the role of dietary resveratrol in SAMP8 mice, a model of age-related AD. We found that resveratrol supplements increased mean life expectancy and maximal life span in SAMP8 and in their control, the related strain SAMR1. In addition, we examined the resveratrol-mediated neuroprotective effects on several specific hallmarks of AD. We found that long-term dietary resveratrol activates AMPK pathways and pro-survival routes such as SIRT1 in vivo. It also reduces cognitive impairment and has a neuroprotective role, decreasing the amyloid burden and reducing tau hyperphosphorylation.
References
- Regulation of SIRT1 in cellular functions: role of polyphenols.
- Rapamycin, but not resveratrol or simvastatin, extends life span of genetically heterogeneous mice.
- Resveratrol delays age-related deterioration and mimics transcriptional aspects of dietary restriction without extending life span.
- SIRT1 is required for AMPK activation and the beneficial effects of resveratrol on mitochondrial function.