Our main objective is to gain a better understanding of the impact of diet on both physiological and pathological aging, encompassing the molecular to the behavioral level. We propose that these dietary factors modulate neuroinflammation processes linked to neurodegeneration, particularly during sensitive periods, and exhibit a sex-dependent impact. Specifically, we hypothesize that the beneficial effects of diet on the aging brain are associated to a decrease in pro-inflammatory parameters and an increase in the expression of synaptic proteins. These changes are believed to induce modifications in histone acetylation, thereby contributing to the observed positive effects on memory in aging individuals.
Our reserach line has three interconnected objectives:
- Investigate the effects of diet on the progressive cognitive impairment observed during both normal and pathological aging in rats;
- Investigate the impact of diet on the epigenetic, molecular, and neurochemical aspects of physiological and pathological aging in rats;
- Explore the potential impact of dietary habits on metabolic, hormonal and inflammation plasma biomarkers among middle-aged individuals.
