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Chronic consumption of a western diet induces robust glial activation in aging mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Graham LC, Harder JM, Soto I, de Vries WN, John SW, Howell GR.. Scientific reports, 2016-02-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Studies have assessed individual components of a western diet, but no study has assessed the long-term, cumulative effects of a western diet on aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, we have formulated the first western-style diet that mimics the fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and mineral levels of western diets. This diet was fed to aging C57BL/6J (B6) mice to identify phenotypes that may increase susceptibility to AD, and to APP/PS1 mice, a mouse model of AD, to determine the effects of the diet in AD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Graham, L. C., Harder, J. M., Soto, I., de Vries, W. N., John, S. W., & Howell, G. R. (2016). Chronic consumption of a western diet induces robust glial activation in aging mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep21568
Vancouver
Graham LC, Harder JM, Soto I, de Vries WN, John SW, Howell GR. Chronic consumption of a western diet induces robust glial activation in aging mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Scientific reports. 2016. doi:10.1038/srep21568. PMID: 26888450.
BibTeX
@article{graham2016-26888450,
author = {Graham, L. C. and Harder, J. M. and Soto, I. and de Vries, W. N. and John, S. W. and Howell, G. R.},
title = {{Chronic consumption of a western diet induces robust glial activation in aging mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1038/srep21568},
pmid = {26888450},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/srep21568}
}
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Key findings
- Therefore, we have formulated the first western-style diet that mimics the fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and mineral levels of western diets.
- This diet was fed to aging C57BL/6J (B6) mice to identify phenotypes that may increase susceptibility to AD, and to APP/PS1 mice, a mouse model of AD, to determine the effects of the diet in AD.
- Astrocytosis and microglia/monocyte activation were dramatically increased in response to diet and was further increased in APP/PS1 mice fed the western diet.
- This increase in glial responses was associated with increased plaque burden in the hippocampus.
Why it matters
In mice, a long-term western-style diet increased activation of glial immune cells, and this was greater in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. These are animal findings and do not establish that diet changes prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “mice”) — scores zero |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 111 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.2 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 36 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Gareth R. Howell: h-index 50 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Howard Hughes Medical Institute: institution h-index 2,008 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26888450) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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