HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Acetyl-L-Carnitine and R Alpha Lipoic Acid to Reduce Brain Aging

Study Abstract

Brain function declines with age and is associated with diminishing mitochondrial integrity. The neuronal mitochondrial ultrastructural changes of young (4 mo) and old (21 mo) F344 rats supplemented with two mitochondrial metabolites, acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR, 0.2% [wt/vol] in the drinking water) and R-alpha-lipoic acid (LA, 0.1% (wt/wt) in the chow), were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative electron microscopy techniques. Two independent morphologists blinded to sample identity examined and scored all electron micrographs. Mitochondria were examined in each micrograph, and each structure was scored according to the degree of injury. Controls displayed an age-associated significant decrease in the number of intact mitochondria (p = 0.026) as well as increase in mitochondria with broken cristae (p < 0.001) in the hippocampus as demonstrated by electron microscopic observations. Neuronal mitochondrial damage was associated with damage in vessel wall cells, especially vascular endothelial cells. Dietary supplementation of young and aged animals increased the proliferation of intact mitochondria and reduced the density of mitochondria associated with vacuoles and lipofuscin. Feeding old rats ALCAR and LA significantly reduced the number of severely damaged mitochondria (p = 0.02) and increased the number of intact mitochondria (p < 0.001) in the hippocampus. These results suggest that feeding ALCAR with LA may ameliorate age-associated mitochondrial ultrastructural decay, and are consistent with previous studies showing improved brain function.

Study Information

Aliev G, Liu J, Shenk JC, Fischbach K, Pacheco GJ, Chen SG, Obrenovich ME, Ward WF, Richardson AG, Smith MA, Gasimov E, Perry G, Ames BN.
Neuronal mitochondrial amelioration by feeding acetyl-L-carnitine and lipoic acid to aged rats.
J Cell Mol Med.
2008 March
Department of Biology, College of Sciences, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.