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The Effects of Western Diet and Binge Drinking on the Mouse Brain
Grenon, Jake
Grenon, Jake
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The Western diet pattern has spread worldwide due to the increasing availability of cheap and ultra-processed foods. Simultaneously, drinking patterns have changed with binge drinking becoming the most popular form of alcohol intake. Both Western diet and binge drinking have been linked to inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, but the impacts of their combination on the brain are not known. This is of concern as poor diet and heavy drinking often go hand-in-hand and their combination has potential to cause more rapid or severe neurodegeneration. This research seeks to investigate this gap using a mouse model consuming a translatable Western diet and binge drinking protocol over 12 weeks. Mouse food and alcohol consumption were measured along with final body and brain weight. Serum levels of glucose and thyroxine were measured. Biochemical assays assessing lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were used along with qPCR of brain inflammatory targets. Findings suggest the Western diet seems to be the most prominent driver of disease, with binge drinking having a minimal effect on its own or as an additive. Western diet increases alcohol consumption and increases feeding behavior, and is likely not due to hypothalamic inflammation. Although no changes in molecular markers were detected in the hypothalamus, alterations to anti- and pro-oxidant measures were detected in whole brain tissue with Western diet increasing lipid peroxidation. There are also clear sex differences seen throughout these results regarding consumption patterns, weight gain, and inflammatory markers requiring further investigation.
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2026-04-16
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College of Arts & Sciences
Neuroscience Program
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Nutrition & Food Sciences
Neuroscience Program
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Nutrition & Food Sciences