| Abstract | Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disorder, which affects millions of people in the United States. Although it is currently unclear what exactly causes Alzheimer's disease, a link between AD and inflammation has been established. Our lab has previously shown that chronic peripheral inflammation in the body, simulated by treatment with LPS can contribute to or cause AD-like symptoms to develop within a mouse. Therefore, we believe that by reducing peripheral inflammation, we can potentially prevent AD-like symptoms, or at least slow the progression of the disease. One compound that has shown promise in reducing inflammation is omega three fatty acid, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Previous studies have demonstrated that omega three fatty acids can have an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophage cells. Here, we test this claim further in order to establish a foundation for future studies. In cell culture, macrophage cells treated with omega three fatty acids and LPS produce less inflammation than cells treated with LPS alone. Although these in vitro results indicate a promising method for preventing AD, additional studies must be conducted in microglial cells and in vivo studies to access the use of omega three fatty acids in for AD prevention in humans. The purpose of this research was to replicate the observations made by other research groups in regards to macrophage treatment with DHA and to establish a reliable protocol for our lab to utilize in future studies further exploring the use of omega three fatty acids in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease |
