LAUSR

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes progressive hippocampus dysfunctions leading to the impairment of learning and memory ability and a reduced uptake rate of glucose in the hippocampus. LW-AFC is a new formula derived from the classical traditional Chinese medicinal prescription Liuwei Dihuang decoction. In this study, we investigated the beneficial and protective effects of LW-AFC in learning-memory ability and brain glucose metabolism in a widely used AD model, the senescence-accelerated prone mouse (SAMP8). Methods: SAMP8 mice were administrated LW-AFC (1.6 g/kg) for 2 months. The Morris water maze (MWM) test, shuttle box test, and novel object recognition test, were all used to evaluate cognition abilities. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) was employed to detect the level of glucose uptake in the mouse brain. The concentrations of ATP, ADP and AMP were determined by HPLC. Results: The results from the MWM, shuttle box, and novel object recognition tests showed impairments in object recognition memory and spatial learning and memory, and active avoidance in SAMP8 mice. Administration of LW-AFC ameliorated the impairments in learning and memory abilities. The FDG-PET results showed a decrease in the uptake of glucose in the brains of SAMP8 mice with increasing age. LW-AFC enhanced glucose uptake in the brain of SAMP8 mice. Decreases in the concentrations of ATP, ADP and AMP were also found in the brains of SAMP8 mice. Administration of LW-AFC increased the concentration of all energy substances. Conclusion: LW-AFC could ameliorate deterioration of cognition in SAMP8 mice by improving glucose metabolism.