UC Davis

Interventions to improve mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are largely limited by the lack of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the neurological condition. Thus, understanding the factors that initiate and exacerbate the disease would contribute to advancement in treatments. It has been shown that dietary modifications, including a high fiber resistant starch (RS) diet, impact neurocognitive health. In this study, mice were given an RS supplemented diet or an isocaloric diet for 2 months to determine the effect of RS supplementation on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. After 2 months, the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of the brains were analyzed for astrogliosis, microglial activation, and mature neurons. The group on the RS diet had fewer neuroinflammatory markers; however, we did not see a decrease in neurodegeneration. These findings are consistent with previous studies suggesting an interaction between metabolic health and cognitive impairment. Future research investigating this interplay would be beneficial for medical advancements for MCI.