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Omega-3 fatty acids homeostasis during aging and in carriers of an epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E

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A major concern about old age, to both the individuals and the society, is a decline in cognition because it compromises the quality of life in affected individual and their families. There is currently no drug with proven efficacy to treat or delay progression of cognitive decline. Therefore, finding prevention strategies is of paramount importance. Nutrition is key to healthy aging and consuming fatty fish containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) seems to decrease the risk of developing cognitive decline but not in apolipoprotein E e4 carriers (E4+), the most important genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease. Mélanie Plourde's research group have shown that aging and carrying an E4+ allele, are two conditions disrupting the kinetics of DHA, hence modifying DHA homeostasis. Since DHA is thought to be protective against cognitive decline in animals via neuroprotective effects, disrupting DHA homeostasis can therefore lead to higher risk of developing cognitive decline. This conference will present data collected in animal model and clinical trials understanding the role of fatty acid homeostasis during aging and in E4+ carriers.

Speaker:
Melanie Plourde
Associate Professor
Université de Sherbrooke

Melanie obtained her PhD in 2006 from Université de Bourgogne and Université Laval. She completed 3 years of postdoctoral fellow in the group of Prof Cunnane at Université de Sherbrooke and she worked on lipid metabolism and ketone production. She then completed a one year postdoctoral fellow in genetics and nutrigenomics with Marie-Claude Vohl and Louis Pérusse at Université Laval. She is now Associate Professor at Université de Sherbrooke. Her research program is focussed the hypothesis that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, plays a role in human brain functions and cognition but this is conditional to DHA efficacy. Her aim is to study gene-by diet interaction during aging with focus on omega-3 fatty acids. Her research program will generate fundamental knowledge on the link between omega-3 fatty acid metabolism and cognition during aging and in carriers of an epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E, the most important genetic risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. This program focuses on two of the most vulnerable populations suffering from brain diseases with the ultimate goal of promoting brain health throughout the entire life span.


***Original Source: "2016 CNS Annual Conference", Saturday, May 7, 2016

Length: 26:22

Type: Video

Last Updated: May 30, 2016

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Omega-3 fatty acids homeostasis during aging and in carriers of an epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E Video
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