Unveiling Moxibustion's Impact on AD Mice Learning and Memory: Role of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complex I Subunit in the Hippocampus.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by significant impairment in energy metabolism. Our previous studies have demonstrated that moxibustion can ameliorate cognitive dysfunction by enhancing brain energy metabolism in individuals with AD, yet its fundamental mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, spatial transcriptomics, biochemical assays, and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to identify differentially expressed genes related to metabolism and their functions, as well as to determine the key metabolic genes influenced by moxibustion. Moxibustion significantly promote spatial learning and memory ability, while reducing the production of hippocampal pathological markers in APP/PS1 mice. Respiratory chain complex I may play an important role in regulating energy metabolism in the hippocampus during moxibustion. Additionally, moxibustion also elevated co-expression of PSD95/SYN, which exhibited a positive correlation with energy metabolism. Thus moxibustion has the potential to improve energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, subsequently ameliorating learning and memory impairments.