Grant: Fellowship - Priority Announcement: Aging

High blood pressure is one of the main health problems that increases the chance of getting dementia, a disease that causes memory loss and thinking problems. One reason is that high blood pressure can lead to irritation and stress in the brain, which slowly damages brain cells and makes them inflamed. Certain natural and healthy fats (such as omega-3 fats) found in foods such as flaxseed can help the body calm down inflamed brain and reduce brain stress. Flaxseed is already known to lower blood pressure and improve heart health, and it may also protect memory. In this project, we will test if adding flaxseed oil to the diet can reduce brain damage, improve memory, and keep the brain healthier in animals that naturally develop high blood pressure and dementia. Using several advanced and special techniques, we will investigate how healthy fats in the flaxseed convert to protective compounds in the brain. Then, we will determine their mechanism of action that how these protective natural compounds tackle the harmful effects of hypertension in brain cells. This will help us to find new ways to find early diagnosis and prevention of dementia in people specially those who suffer from hypertension. We will also study how these effects may be different in male and female animals, and at different stages of life (e.g. young and midlife age). This is important because women, especially around midlife, are at higher risk of developing dementia. By showing how something as simple as diet can protect the brain, this research may lead to new, safe, and affordable ways to prevent dementia and improve healthy aging.