Long-term d-allose administration ameliorates age-related cognitive impairment and loss of bone strength in male mice

Age-related physical and cognitive decline may be ameliorated by consuming functional foods. d-Allose, reported to have multiple health benefits, may temper aging phenotypes, particularly brain function. We investigated whether d-allose supplementation improves cognitive function. A standard battery of behavioral tests was administered to 18-month-old male mice after consuming diet containing 3 % d-allose for 6 months. Following a wire-hanging test, an open-field test, Morris water maze, fear-conditioning, and an analgesia test were sequentially performed. Bone density and strength were assessed afterwards. Possible mechanism(s) under-lying memory changes in hippocampus were also examined with a DNA microarray. d-Allose failed to influence muscle strength, locomotor activity and anxiety, fear memory, or pain sensitivity. However, d-allose improved hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory, and it may contribute to increase bone strength. d-Allose also changed the expression of some genes in hippocampus involved in cognitive functions. Long-term d-allose supplementation appears to modestly change aging phenotypes and improve spatial memory.