Selected Manuscript

We congratulate you on acceptance of your manuscript.

EDULEARN24

Annual Expo by the Journal of Young Explorers Meta

  • Fundamental or applied research
  • Interdisciplinary research
  • Judging on a rolling basis
  • A work-in-progress research
  • Completed research
  • Unlimited topics and ideas
  • ISBN 979-8-89238-262-5
  • NYCSEA/NESEP/JYEM event at Harvard Club in NYC
  • Featured Publication - On going

The Effect of Dietary P. dactylifera Concentration on Memory Loss in Drosophila Expressing Alzheimer’s Gene

by Noor Sohail, Westhampton Beach School(WBHS)
April 07, 2026 ISBN: 979-8-89480-845-1 NYCSEA Journal

 

Abstract: 

This study aimed to investigate the impact of Phoenix dactylifera (dates) on the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Drosophila melanogaster. AD is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that causes memory loss. It is hypothesized that incorporating dates into the diet of genetically modified Drosophila (fruit flies) expressing the amyloid precursor protein (APP) would alleviate memory loss. The experimental design involved four groups: wild-type flies and three APP-modified groups receiving 0%, 2%, and 4% date concentrations in their diet. A T-maze with olfactory learning assessed the flies’ memory retention by associating a positive reinforcement with a banana odor and a negative reinforcement with an electrical shock. The flies were tested every other day over a 12-day period, and their initial entries were recorded and analyzed for results. The results indicated that the wild-type flies preferred the conditioned arm (odor), confirming the validity of the T-maze as a test to correlate cognition. Flies with the 4% date concentration had a P-value of .95 when compared to wild-type. This suggests that flies with the 4% date concentration significantly improved memory performance. However, flies receiving 0% and 2% date concentrations showed fluctuating entries into the conditioned arm with a P-value of 1, suggesting no improvement in memory. These findings indicate that the hypothesis was partially supported, with the 2% date concentration having no effect, but the 4% slowing cognitive decline in the Drosophila models. This study provides an avenue for further research on dates and their impact on AD.

References

  1. Budick, S. A., & Dickinson, M. H. (2006). Free-flight responses of Drosophila melanogaster to attractive odors. Journal of Experimental Biology, 209(15), 3001-3017. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.02305

  2. Criscuoli, A., & Drioli, E. (2020). Date juice concentration by vacuum membrane distillation. Separation and Purification Technology, 251, 117301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117301

  3. d'Isa, R., Comi, G., & Leocani, L. (2021). Apparatus design and behavioural testing protocol for the evaluation of spatial working memory in mice through the spontaneous alternation t-maze. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00402-7

  4. Essa, M., Braidy, N., Awlad-Thani, K., Vaishnav, R., Al-Asmi, A., Guillemin, G., Al-Adawi, S., & Subash, S. (2015). Diet rich in date palm fruits improves memory, learning and reduces beta amyloid in transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 6(2), 111. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-9476.159073

  5. García-Casares, N., Gallego Fuentes, P., Barbancho, M. Á., López-Gigosos, R., García-Rodríguez, A., & Gutiérrez-Bedmar, M. (2021). Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment and mediterranean diet. A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(20), 4642. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10204642

  6. Guasch‐Ferré, M., & Willett, W. C. (2021). The mediterranean diet and health: A comprehensive overview. Journal of Internal Medicine, 290(3), 549-566. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13333

  7. Juarros-Basterretxea, J., Aonso-Diego, G., Postigo, Á., Montes-Álvarez, P., Menéndez-Aller, Á., & García-Cueto, E. (2024). Post-hoc tests in one-way anova: The case for normal distribution. Methodology, 20(2), 84-99. https://doi.org/10.5964/meth.11721

  8. Luo, L., Martin-Morris, L., & White, K. (1990). Identification, secretion, and neural expression of appl, a drosophila protein similar to human amyloid protein precursor. The Journal of Neuroscience, 10(12), 3849-3861. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.10-12-03849.1990

  9. Porsteinsson, A., Isaacson, R., Knox, S., Sabbagh, M., & Rubino, I. (2021). Diagnosis of early alzheimer's disease: Clinical practice in 2021. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, 8(3), 371-386. https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2021.23

  10. Ratterman, D. M. (2003). Eliminating ether by using ice for Drosophila labs. Tested Studies for Laboratory Teaching, 24, 259-265. https://www.ableweb.org/biologylabs/wp-content/uploads/volumes/vol-24/mini.5.ratterman.pdf

  11. Schubert, M., Hansson, B. S., & Sachse, S. (2014). The banana code—natural blend processing in the olfactory circuitry of drosophila melanogaster. Frontiers in Physiology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00059

  12. Semelidou, O., Acevedo, S., & Skoulakis, E. (2019). Accessing olfactory habituation in drosophila melanogaster with a t-maze paradigm. BIO-PROTOCOL, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.21769/bioprotoc.3259

  13. Tcw, J., & Goate, A. M. (2016). Genetics of β-Amyloid precursor protein in alzheimer's disease. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, 7(6), a024539. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a024539