Molecular Mechanisms underlying Dietary Modulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: Implications for Mental Health
Event details
| Date | 23.03.2011 |
| Hour | 09:00 |
| Speaker | Dr Sandrine Thuret, Molecular Mechanisms underlying Dietary Modulation of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: Implications for Menta |
| Location |
SV3510
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Research over the last 5 years has firmly established that learning and memory abilities as well as mood can be influenced by diet. Although the underlying mechanisms by which diet modulates mental health are not well understood. One of the brain structures associated with learning, memory and mood is the hippocampus. Interestingly, the hippocampus is one of the two structures in the adult brain where the formation of newborn neurons -or neurogenesis- persists. The level of neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus has been linked directly to cognition and mood: In the rodent, an increase of neurogenesis in the hippocampus is associated with improved learning/memory abilities, whereas a decrease is associated with symptoms of depression. Therefore modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis by diet emerges as a possible mechanism by which nutrition impacts on mental health.
During this talk I will first present dietary parameters responsible for adult hippocampal neurogenesis regulation. This will be illustrated with one of our findings in the mouse animal model where meal frequency, independently of calorie intake, affects adult hippocampal neurogenesis, learning/memory and mood. Next, I will summarize our recent data on the molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of diet on hippocampal neurogenesis. I will highlight our work on one of our candidate genes carried out in a human hippocampal progenitor cell line. Our data suggests a central role for the “ageing suppressor gene” Klotho in regulating hippocampal neurogenesis.
The last part of the talk will outline future short and long- term directions of my work. This area of investigation is new and needs attention because a better understanding of the neurological mechanisms by which nutrition affect mental health may lead to novel dietary and pharmaceutical approaches for disease prevention, treatment and better general mental health.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Contact
- Emilie Pralong