Meeting Abstract
Current research indicates that caffeine administration in mammalian models expressing tau pathology (associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)) leads to a reduction in both learning and memory deficits and neuronal damage. The effects of caffeine on tau pathology has not been studied extensively in the more basic model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Studies in Drosophila could be useful in developing models of the basic mechanisms of how caffeine could have an effect on the cognitive deficits and associated neuronal pathology in AD. Genetic tools available in Drosophila permits for controlled expression of proteins associated with AD. Experiments can be conducted with a large number of flies simultaneously, providing a high throughput model system. Here we examine spatial learning and memory, as well as longevity in Drosophila expressing human tau protein in the mushroom bodies (MBs) and ellipsoid body (EB) exposed to caffeine post-eclosion in the diet. The MBs and the EB are distinct neuropils in the brain of Drosophila that have been implicated in spatial learning and memory. Additionally, the MBs and EB have been suggested to have homologies to regions of the vertebrate brain attacked during AD (the hippocampus and striatum, respectively). Our approach thus far has focused on analyzing the effects on lifespan and on performance in visual place learning assays. Our data suggests that similar to mammalian models of caffeine and AD, caffeine exposure has a positive effect on the behavior in Drosophila expressing tau pathology. By exploring the effects of caffeine on health, spatial cognition and learning, we can better understand the broad deficits caused by tau pathology.
