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Authors: Rabin, Bernard M. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: On exploratory class missions, such as a voyage to Mars, astronauts will be exposed to doses and types of radiation that are not experienced in low earth orbit where the space shuttle and International Space Station operate. Astronauts who participate in exploratory class missions outside the magnetic field of the earth will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays which are composed of alpha particles, protons and particles of high energy and charge. Exposure to cosmic rays produces changes in neuronal and behavioral functioning which are characteristic of aged organisms. As has been observed with aging, maintaining rats on antioxidant berry …diets can prevent/ameliorate the radiation-induced changes in neural and behavioral function. As such, these diets have the potential to provide protection to astronauts from the deleterious effects of exposure to space radiation. Show more

Keywords: Cosmic rays, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, antioxidant diets

DOI: 10.3233/NUA-140045

Citation: Nutrition and Aging, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 233-241, 2014

Authors: Seeram, Navindra P. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Article Type: Introduction

Abstract: Studies to advance the potential health benefits of berries continue to increase as was evident at the sixth biennial meeting of the Berry Health Benefits Symposium (BHBS). The two and a half-day symposium was held on October 13–15, 2015, in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. The 2015 BHBS featured new and emerging research further bolstering the positive biological effects of berry consumption on human health, performance, and disease prevention. The papers presented at the 2015 BHBS consisted of invited papers from an international group of leading berry researchers, as well as poster abstracts. Oral sessions were organized around themes including heart …health, cancer prevention, gut health/gut microflora, brain aging, metabolism, and berry compositional chemistry. These thematic health areas, while not exhaustive, encompass the more prominent research success stories on berries, the vast majority of which are backed by published animal and human studies. Similar to the past meetings, the research findings at the 2015 BHBS primarily focused on blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, cranberries, red raspberries, and strawberries. However, research on other berry fruits, including chokeberry (aronia berry), cloudberry, blue honeysuckle berry, bilberry, jamun berry, and elderberry, was also featured as was data on major classes of berry polyphenols/phytochemicals including anthocyanins and other flavonoids and their in vivo derived metabolites. The BHBS continues to be a leading forum for interactions between scientists and berry industry stakeholders. The cluster of papers in this issue represents a snapshot of presentations at the 2015 BHBS which support the positive biological effects of berries on human health and diseases. Show more

Keywords: Berries, biological effects, health, disease

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-160139

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 93-95, 2016

Authors: Carey, Amanda N. | Poulose, Shibu M. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Dietary patterns may play an important role in protecting the brain from the cellular and cognitive dysfunction associated with the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases. Tree nuts are showing promise as possible dietary interventions for age-related brain dysfunction. Tree nuts are an important source of essential nutrients, like vitamin E, folate, and fiber. Tree nuts also contain a variety of components, such as phytochemicals like flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids, as well as monounsaturated and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids that have the potential to combat age-related brain dysfunction. Evidence is accumulating that suggests that tree nuts and their …bioactive constituents have the potential to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, as indicated by decreased lipid peroxidation in vivo and reduced production of the free radical nitric oxide and the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha in vitro. Also, tree nut consumption might have the ability to mitigate some of the cognitive decline associated with aging. Here we review the current knowledge of how the consumption of nuts may improve brain health, specifically focusing on walnuts, almonds, pistachios, and pecans. Show more

Keywords: Brain, aging, walnut, nut, polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidant effects

DOI: 10.3233/NUA-2012-0007

Citation: Nutrition and Aging, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 55-67, 2012

Authors: Galli, Rachel L. | Carey, Amanda N. | Luskin, Katharine A. | Bielinski, Donna F. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Many foods rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds have been shown to increase health and reduce markers of aging. A number of berry fruits high in polyphenols are known to ameliorate age-related declines in cellular, cognitive and behavioral function in rats. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a red raspberry-supplemented diet on age-sensitive measures of learning, memory and motor performance in aged (19 mo) F344 rats. METHODS: Red raspberry extract was prepared from fresh whole fruit and incorporated in standard rodent chow to create a 2% diet. Following ten weeks on a control or 2% raspberry diet, cognitive …and motor performance was assessed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) and a battery of five psychomotor tasks. RESULTS: The supplemented diet significantly improved performance on three of the five motor tasks, but did not affect MWM performance. Specifically, old rats fed the 2% raspberry diet had significantly better performance on the rod and plank walks, which measure psychomotor coordination and balance, and on the inclined screen, which measures muscle tone, strength, stamina and balance. CONCLUSIONS: Given that falls are the number one health hazard for otherwise healthy older adults, these results may have important implications for increasing healthy aging. Show more

Keywords: Red raspberry, polyphenols, ellagitannins, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, aging, motor performance

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-160119

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 97-103, 2016

Authors: Miller, Marshall G. | Hamilton, Derek A. | Joseph, James A. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Healthy aging is associated with functional declines in mobility and cognition among both humans and non-human animals. OBJECTIVE: This study combines human measures of mobility and cognition to develop a test battery for evaluating the effects of dietary supplements among older adults. Selected measures parallel behavior tasks used to assess the efficacy of dietary interventions in rodent models of aging. METHODS: Seventy six healthy adults, between the ages of 21 and 75, completed a 1 hour mobility and cognition assessment. Postural sway and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured using a Zebris™ instrumented treadmill system. A computer-based virtual water maze …and the trail-making test were used to assess spatial memory and executive function, respectively. RESULTS: Sway velocity during quiet standing increased with age. Preferred gait speed declined with age and changes in the gait cycle reveal an age-related increase in total double support during normal walking. In the virtual water maze, latency to locate a hidden or visible platform increased with age; meanwhile, probe test performance declined with age. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy adults show age-related declines in measures of mobility and cognition. These measures are a useful tool for translating research on dietary interventions to older adults. Show more

Keywords: Aging, postural balance, gait, mobility limitation, cognition, executive function, learning, maze learning, diet therapy

DOI: 10.3233/NUA-140046

Citation: Nutrition and Aging, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 213-222, 2014

Authors: Troen, Aron M. | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara | Chao, Wei-Hsun | Albuquerque, Bina | Smith, Donald E. | Selhub, Jacob | Rosenberg, Irwin H.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Homocysteinemia is associated with cognitive dysfunction in the elderly ranging from subtle cognitive decline to dementia. Homocysteine is generated from methionine as a product of biological methylation reactions and is disposed of through reactions that require folate and vitamins B12 and B6. While different disruptions in these reactions can result in homocysteinemia, it is unclear if they will also result in homocysteine-mediated cognitive dysfunction. Young ApoE-deficient mice were fed one of four diets with differing methionine and B-vitamin content for eight weeks, before undergoing psychomotor tests, the Morris Water Maze test of spatial memory and learning, and measurement of home-cage …activity. B-vitamin deficiency induced homocysteinemia and selectively impaired Morris Water Maze performance without affecting other behavioral measures. The cognitive deficits occurred in the absence of overt histologic neurodegeneration but in association with moderate impairments of brain methylation potential. Diets that yielded cognitive deficits were different from those that exacerbated aortic pathology. These findings are inconsistent with a single mechanism linking homocysteinemia to neurological dysfunctions mediated by homocysteine vasotoxicity. Instead, they indicate that different “types” of homocysteinemia, or in other words different impairments of nutritional metabolism affecting homocysteine levels, may lead to different end organ dysfunctions and/or diseases. Show more

Keywords: ApoE, folate, homocysteine, methionine, nutrition, behavior, cognition, model, dementia, neurodegeneration

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2006-9403

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 381-392, 2006

Authors: Shaul, Merav E. | Hallacoglu, Bertan | Sassaroli, Angelo | Shukitt-Hale, Barbara | Fantini, Sergio | Rosenberg, Irwin H. | Troen, Aron M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Senescent changes in brain microvascular circulation may cause or contribute to age-related cognitive decline. Such changes are promoted partly by aging, but also by chronic hypertension, a leading treatable cause of cognitive decline. Objectives: We aimed to non-invasively detect in vivo the senescent changes in brain microvascular circulation associated with age and hypertension, and inquired whether decrements driven by aging would be exacerbated by chronic hypertension. Methods: In this longitudinal study, absolute near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to quantify in vivo cerebral blood volume (CBV) and assess the hemodynamic response to a hypercapnic respiratory challenge in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto …(WKY) and spontaneous-hypertensive (SHR) rats. The impact of age and hypertension were evaluated by repeating these measurements on the same animals at 4- and 16-months of age. Results: CBV decreased markedly with age in both strains, from 4.5 ± 0.2 to 2.6 ± 0.1 ml/100g tissue, on average. Chronic hypertension, however, did not significantly exacerbate this age-related decrease in CBV (−48.1 ± 3.7% in WKYs versus −53.3 ± 5.4% in SHRs). In contrast, vasoreactivity was already impaired in the young hypertensive rats (ΔVMR 0.017 ± 0.014 in young SHRs versus 0.042 ± 0.005 in young WKYs) and further worsened by middle-age (ΔVMR 0.011 ± 0.017 middle-aged SHRs). Conclusion: Whereas a decrease in brain blood volume correlated with age but not hypertension, vasodilatory capacity was diminished due to hypertension but did not appear affected by age alone. The ability of absolute NIRS to distinguish between such senescent changes in brain (micro)vascular circulation in life may allow early detection and intervention to preserve cerebrovascular health with age. Show more

Keywords: Aging, cerebral blood volume, hypertension, near infrared spectroscopy, vasodilation

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-132504

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 42, no. s3, pp. S189-S198, 2014