Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth leading cause of death in the US. This neurodegenerative disease involves neuronal death associated with amyloid-beta (AB) plaques. Current treatments can manage symptoms, but there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Our study focused on C. elegans models of Alzheimer’s disease and the ability of punicalagin and tannic acid, plant polyphenols, to prevent the onset of disease symptoms. Behavioral assays were used to study the ability of these extracts to combat the effects of AB expression in C. elegans. These assays tested chemosensory and muscular deficits, similar to olfactory defects and paralysis seen in patients. Our results suggest that punicalagin reduces neuronal deficits caused by the expression of AB, while tannic acid does not.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Nikolaki, Veroniki
• Coyle, Veronica Lynn
• Ong, Florentia Nicole

Contributors

• Aurilio, Laura

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042816-151332

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

Advisor

• Srinivasan, Jagan

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-01-20