Bazi Bushen improves cognitive dysfunction in 5×FAD mice by targeting amyloid pathology, neuroinflammation and cellular senescence.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bazi Bushen (BZBS), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, is composed of fourteen herbal ingredients, including classic tonics such as Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Cistanches Herba. Traditionally used to combat fatigue and promote vitality in aging individuals, BZBS is rooted in TCM principles of kidney essence replenishment and brain function enhancement. Recent pharmacological studies have begun to validate its efficacy in age-related cognitive decline, but its effects and mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of BZBS in 5 × FAD transgenic mice, a commonly used Alzheimer's disease model, and to shed light on its possible mechanisms of action.

METHODS

Four- and six-month-old 5 × FAD mice were treated with BZBS to examine how it might influence cognitive performance. Behavioral assessments were carried out using Y-Maze and the Morris Water Maze. To investigate the biological changes and uncover the mechanisms involved, we used a range of techniques-Thioflavin S staining, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and qPCR-to look at Aβ plaque accumulation, Amyloid Precursor Protein C-terminal Fragments (APP-CTF) and β-secretase 1 (BACE1) expression levels, markers of inflammation, and indicators of cellular aging in hippocampus and motor cortex.

RESULTS

In the 4-month group, where treatment was started before severe pathology developed, BZBS improved learning and memory performance. It also reduced amyloid deposition in the cortex and hippocampus, and lowered the levels of APP-CTFs and BACE1. In addition, we observed decreased mRNA expression of IL-1α, IL-6, and NF-κB, along with reduced microglial activation in the hippocampus of BZBS-treated mice. Similarly BZBS downregulated key markers of cellular senescence, including p16, p21, and senescence-associated β galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. In the 6-month group, which already showed signs of amyloid pathology, BZBS still had beneficial effects-improving cognition, lowering Aβ load, and reducing microglial activity-suggesting that it may be effective even after disease onset.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that BZBS exerts significant therapeutic effects in 5 × FAD mice, including improved cognitive improvement, reduced Aβ deposition, suppressed microglial activation, and attenuated hippocampal cellular senescence. Notably, BZBS was effective whether administered from the early stage of pathology (at four months of age) or after established amyloidosis (at six months of age), highlighting its dual potential as both a preventive and disease-modifying intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD).