Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior
The relationship between caloric and nutrient intake and overall health has been extensively studied. However, little research has focused on the impact of the hardness of staple foods on health. In this study, we investigated the effects of a soft diet on brain function and behavior in mice from an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/10/2397 |
| _version_ | 1797598772745732096 |
|---|---|
| author | Masae Furukawa Hirobumi Tada Resmi Raju Jingshu Wang Haruna Yokoi Mitsuyoshi Yamada Yosuke Shikama Kenji Matsushita |
| author_facet | Masae Furukawa Hirobumi Tada Resmi Raju Jingshu Wang Haruna Yokoi Mitsuyoshi Yamada Yosuke Shikama Kenji Matsushita |
| author_sort | Masae Furukawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The relationship between caloric and nutrient intake and overall health has been extensively studied. However, little research has focused on the impact of the hardness of staple foods on health. In this study, we investigated the effects of a soft diet on brain function and behavior in mice from an early age. Mice fed a soft diet for six months exhibited increased body weight and total cholesterol levels, along with impaired cognitive and motor function, heightened nocturnal activity, and increased aggression. Interestingly, when these mice were switched back to a solid diet for three months, their weight gain ceased, total cholesterol levels stabilized, cognitive function improved, and aggression decreased, while their nocturnal activity remained high. These findings suggest that long-term consumption of a soft diet during early development can influence various behaviors associated with anxiety and mood regulation, including weight gain, cognitive decline, impaired motor coordination, increased nocturnal activity, and heightened aggression. Therefore, the hardness of food can impact brain function, mental well-being, and motor skills during the developmental stage. Early consumption of hard foods may be crucial for promoting and maintaining healthy brain function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:25:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-73b6d1e3009f4bdba10ef0672effce41 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:25:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-73b6d1e3009f4bdba10ef0672effce412023-11-18T02:45:50ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-05-011510239710.3390/nu15102397Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related BehaviorMasae Furukawa0Hirobumi Tada1Resmi Raju2Jingshu Wang3Haruna Yokoi4Mitsuyoshi Yamada5Yosuke Shikama6Kenji Matsushita7Department of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanDepartment of Nutrition, Faculty of Wellness, Shigakkan University, Obu 474-8651, JapanDepartment of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanDepartment of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanDepartment of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanDepartment of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanDepartment of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanDepartment of Oral Disease Research, Geroscience Research Center, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, JapanThe relationship between caloric and nutrient intake and overall health has been extensively studied. However, little research has focused on the impact of the hardness of staple foods on health. In this study, we investigated the effects of a soft diet on brain function and behavior in mice from an early age. Mice fed a soft diet for six months exhibited increased body weight and total cholesterol levels, along with impaired cognitive and motor function, heightened nocturnal activity, and increased aggression. Interestingly, when these mice were switched back to a solid diet for three months, their weight gain ceased, total cholesterol levels stabilized, cognitive function improved, and aggression decreased, while their nocturnal activity remained high. These findings suggest that long-term consumption of a soft diet during early development can influence various behaviors associated with anxiety and mood regulation, including weight gain, cognitive decline, impaired motor coordination, increased nocturnal activity, and heightened aggression. Therefore, the hardness of food can impact brain function, mental well-being, and motor skills during the developmental stage. Early consumption of hard foods may be crucial for promoting and maintaining healthy brain function.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/10/2397hippocampusaggressionsoft foodserotonin |
| spellingShingle | Masae Furukawa Hirobumi Tada Resmi Raju Jingshu Wang Haruna Yokoi Mitsuyoshi Yamada Yosuke Shikama Kenji Matsushita Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior Nutrients hippocampus aggression soft food serotonin |
| title | Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior |
| title_full | Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior |
| title_short | Long-Term Soft-Food Rearing in Young Mice Alters Brain Function and Mood-Related Behavior |
| title_sort | long term soft food rearing in young mice alters brain function and mood related behavior |
| topic | hippocampus aggression soft food serotonin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/10/2397 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masaefurukawa longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT hirobumitada longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT resmiraju longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT jingshuwang longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT harunayokoi longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT mitsuyoshiyamada longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT yosukeshikama longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior AT kenjimatsushita longtermsoftfoodrearinginyoungmicealtersbrainfunctionandmoodrelatedbehavior |