The Potential Role of Enrichment Environment on Plasticity in Alzheimer's Disease Models: Insights About Therapeutic Approaches

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by synapse loss and neurodegeneration, which leads to cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Researchers worldwide have been studying therapeutic approaches aiming to induce plasticity and neuroprotection once AD has no cure and the existing treatments are limited. Environmental Enrichment (EE) is a change in housing conditions that promotes increased cognitive stimulus. Studies have demonstrated that EE acts as a plasticity modulator in several conditions and experimental models. In this review, we analyze and discuss the potential role of EE on plasticity modulation in different animal models but primarily on AD models. The data were extracted from the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. The EE was shown to induce plasticity. LTP and behavior were enhanced in animals under different conditions, such as the AD model. The mechanisms were related to the glutamatergic system and excitatory/ inhibitory balance. Moreover, many studies have evidenced that EE promotes the upregulation of BDNF and the synaptic proteins SYN and PSD95. These data also suggest a neuroprotective function performed by EE in different contexts, such as aging and AD. Therefore, an enriched environment can be a target of new therapeutic approaches that aim to induce neuroplasticity and neuroprotection against AD.