Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Research indicates that the AD behavioral profile is accelerated through significant beta-amyloid deposits, synaptic degeneration, and neurofibrillary tangles. Research suggests that exercise can ameliorate the behavioral and physiological hallmarks of AD by enhancing an array of neurotrophic factors. This study evaluated the influence of four weeks of forced exercise on learning and memory in the Morris water maze in the 5xFAD mice model. The 5xFAD is a transgenic mouse model for AD that mimics the AB42 accumulation, synaptic degeneration, and cognitive dysfunction. Overall, transgenic mice showed increased learning and memory capabilities, refuting the previous results. Forced exercise improved the usage of a spatial cue strategy in the probe trials but did not improve learning indicated by the Morris water maze distance and latency measures. These results did not support the hypothesis that forced exercise would promote resiliency to damage from early AD onset. Although the intended result was not reached, the implementation of exercise as a therapeutic is one of the most promising developments in ameliorating AD. In contrast to the emerging pharmaceuticals claiming to prevent and delay AD, exercise has established itself as an effective holistic treatment to restore cognitive functioning, is convenient, free, side-effect free, and can be tailored to each individual.

Advisor

Stavnezer, Amy Jo

Department

Neuroscience

Disciplines

Animal Diseases | Animals | Behavioral Disciplines and Activities | Behavioral Neurobiology | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Biological Psychology | Other Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Keywords

Animal studies, Alzheimer's, Exercise, Resilience, BDNF

Publication Date

2022

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2022 Angelo Arthur Petracci