Assessing the protective roles of taurine in Alzheimer's disease mouse models

Motivation: The current strategies of targeting patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) suggest that preventative therapies might be more efficient than repairing extensive pathology in progressed AD. Goal(s): We aim to see if taurine can prevent or slow down the progression of AD pathology and its physiologic and metabolic effects in the 5xFAD mouse model. Approach: We have used post-mortem measures of markers of neuroinflammation, neuroanatomy and AD pathology markers, along with longitudinal in-vivo imaging of brain chemistry and anatomy. Results: We have seen taurine acting as a protective agent, as it improved the neurochemical profiles of 5xFAD mice in different regions of the brain. Impact: Taurine supplementation led to an increase in brain taurine levels. It protected decreased CBF and increased iron deposition as well as preventing decreases in NAA and other metabolites associated with progression of AD pathology - further study is warranted.