The effect of interval training with curcumin supplementation on LRP1 and beta amyloid levels in rats with Alzheimer's disease

Beta amyloid protein (Aβ) deposition in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a moderate-intensity interval training with curcumin supplementation on plasma levels of LRP1 (as the main carrier of Aβ in plasma) and Aβ levels in plasma and brain of induced AD rats.

Fifty Wistar rats (eight-week-old) with an average weight of 191±10g were randomly divided into five equal groups: 1) AD+exercise+curcumin, 2) AD+exercise, 3) AD+curcumin, 4) AD, and 5) control group. AD was induced by injecting Aβ1-42 into the intraventricular space of AD groups. After three days of recovery, the training groups experienced moderate-intensity interval training for four weeks and other groups continued their normal lives. Curcumin was also injected intraperitoneally three days a week in two curcumin groups.

The results of one-way analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between the mean levels of hippocampal Aβ, plasma Aβ, and plasma LRP1 in different groups (p=0.001). Also, the results of LSD post hoc test showed the highest mean difference (compared to the other intergroup comparisons) in plasma Aβ and LRP-1 variables of AD+exercise+curcumin group in comparison with healthy control and AD control groups.

In general, the results of the present study showed that moderate-intensity interval training and curcumin supplementation can modulate and control the factors affecting AD in laboratory rats by increasing plasma levels of LRP1 and environmental clearance of Aβ levels in the hippocampus.