Dietary Restriction Benefits Learning and Motor Performance of Aged Mice

Abstract

Female C3B10RF¹ mice maintained on either a control (∼95 kcal/week) or restricted (∼55 kcal/week) diet since weaning were tested in a behavioral battery at 11 to 15 or 31 to 35 months of age (middle-aged vs. aged). Age-related declines observed among control groups in tests of motor coordination (rotorod) and learning (complex maze) were prevented by the restriction regime. In addition, diet restriction increased locomotor activity in a runwheel cage among mice of both ages but did not affect exploratory activity in a novel arena.