Examining the Role of Folic Acid Relative to Anxiety and Cognition in Mice

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Keywords

ANXIETY, COGNITION, DIETARY, FOLIC ACD, PROTEIN, MICE

Department

Nutritional Science

Major

Nutritional Science

Abstract

Roughly one-third of the population suffers from anxiety or neurocognitive disorders (Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s) in their lifetime. However, whether folic acid deficiency causes anxiety or cognitive dysfunction remains relatively unexamined. The present study aims to explore the effects of folic acid deficiency and folic acid supplementation on cognitive function, memory, and anxiety-related behavior in mice. Sixteen-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed a folic acid supplemented diet, a folic acid deficient diet, a high protein diet, a low protein diet, or a folate protein control diet for 8 weeks. A random representative sample of mice (N=38; 6-8 mice per dietary treatment) were tested. Three common methods utilized to examine states of anxiety and neurocognition are the following: 1) an Open Field Test to examine anxiety-related behavior and exploratory behavior; 2) a Novel Object Recognition test to assess memory and cognitive function; and, 3) Nestlet building, the ability to create a nest in 12 hours was conducted to assess hippocampal function. Consumption of a low protein diet did significantly decrease the ability to build a nest (p<0.05), a result published with Down Syndrome mice. And, there was an emerging pattern with increased dietary protein intake that revealed more distance explored in the Open Field Test. Indeed, neurocognition was influenced at varying protein intake levels in our mice.

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Susan Helm, Nutritional Science

Funding Source or Research Program

Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Presentation Session

Session A

Location

Black Family Plaza Classroom 188

Start Date

25-3-2022 3:45 PM

End Date

25-3-2022 4:00 PM

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Mar 25th, 3:45 PM Mar 25th, 4:00 PM

Examining the Role of Folic Acid Relative to Anxiety and Cognition in Mice

Black Family Plaza Classroom 188

Roughly one-third of the population suffers from anxiety or neurocognitive disorders (Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s) in their lifetime. However, whether folic acid deficiency causes anxiety or cognitive dysfunction remains relatively unexamined. The present study aims to explore the effects of folic acid deficiency and folic acid supplementation on cognitive function, memory, and anxiety-related behavior in mice. Sixteen-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed a folic acid supplemented diet, a folic acid deficient diet, a high protein diet, a low protein diet, or a folate protein control diet for 8 weeks. A random representative sample of mice (N=38; 6-8 mice per dietary treatment) were tested. Three common methods utilized to examine states of anxiety and neurocognition are the following: 1) an Open Field Test to examine anxiety-related behavior and exploratory behavior; 2) a Novel Object Recognition test to assess memory and cognitive function; and, 3) Nestlet building, the ability to create a nest in 12 hours was conducted to assess hippocampal function. Consumption of a low protein diet did significantly decrease the ability to build a nest (p<0.05), a result published with Down Syndrome mice. And, there was an emerging pattern with increased dietary protein intake that revealed more distance explored in the Open Field Test. Indeed, neurocognition was influenced at varying protein intake levels in our mice.