Effect of consumption of cetoleic acid in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer´s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and as much as 15-20 percent of people over 80 years old are affected by this disease to a certain degree. Risk factors of AD include genetics, head injury, depression, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, as well as environmental factors. Despite decades of research on the molecular mechanisms underlying AD, existing therapies are only symptomatic and do not prevent the AD related neuronal loss. It is therefore of utmost importance to elucidate the action of potential treatments in animal models.

Cetoleic acid, (IUPAC name (Z)-docos-11-enoic acid) is a 22-carbon long fatty acid, cis-monounsaturated at the 11-position. It belongs to the class of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which together with saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are important dietary lipid species under considerable scrutiny for their effects on a number of comorbid health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, mental health and neuroinflammation. Past studies suggests that cetoleic acid improves endothelial function and increases efficiency of linoleic acid conversion to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) when high levels of cetoleic acid is available to the organisms. DHA, EPA and cetoleic acid are, in turn, known to be important for healthy aging by having protective effects against cardiovascular function, inflammatory states, and diabetes. Notably, these are health problems that exhibit comorbidity with Alzheimer’s Diseases and other neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, a possible beneficial effect of consumption of cetoleic acid in Alzheimer’s disease is hypothesized.

CetoPlus will investigate possible the beneficial effects of consuming cetoleic acid on Alzheimer’s disease pathology through a combination of molecular, cellular and behavioral studies in two different zebrafish models (genetic and injection models) of Alzheimer’s disease.

Goal: Assess and document whether the consumption of a cetoleic acid-enriched diet affects the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease using a suitable experimental animal.

Subgoal 1: To map current knowledge and generate a knowledge-base concerning possible beneficial effects of consuming cetoleic acid as a means to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Subgoal 2: To assess effects of consuming cetoleic acid with respect to behavioral deficits related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Subgoal 3: To assess effects of consuming cetoleic acid with respect to molecular and cellular changes (regulation of oxidative stress, vascularization, inflammation and neuronal cell death) in the brain of two Alzheimer’s disease zebrafish models.

Subgoal 4: To assess effects of consuming cetoleic acid with respect to structural and functional lipid composition in the brain of two Alzheimer’s disease zebrafish models.