The Effects of Alpha BRAIN ® on Drosophila melanogaster Activity and Memory
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Authors
Hall, Bryce
Karleskind, Edouard
Date of Issue
2025-04-25
Type
Presentation
Language
en_US
Subject Keywords
Other Titles
Abstract
Homeopathic supplements have been widely used throughout history; however, their proposed benefits remain largely unexplored due to a lack of rigorous research. Previous studies have suggested that individuals receiving Alpha BRAIN® show improvements in memory and cognition. This study focused on analyzing the effects of the supplement Alpha BRAIN® on the activity and memory of Drosophila melanogaster. Based on prior research, it was hypothesized that D. melanogaster treated with Alpha BRAIN® would exhibit higher expression of the genes rutabaga (rut) and dopa decarboxylase (ddc), along with improved performance in memory and locomotion assays. The rut gene encodes the enzyme Adenylyl Cyclase, which is involved in olfactory memory and learning, while Ddc encodes the enzyme DOPA decarboxylase, which is involved in the synthesis of dopamine and plays a role in locomotion and activity. To test this hypothesis, expression of rut and ddc was analyzed using RT-qPCR, locomotor activity was assessed through a standard RING assay, and memory was evaluated using olfactory and visual learning assays. The findings indicate a statistically significant improvement in olfactory and visual memory within D. melanogaster treated with Alpha BRAIN®. Although fold changes in rut and ddc gene expression showed an upward trend, these results were not statistically significant. Similarly, the RING assay revealed a trend of increased activity in the Alpha BRAIN® treated flies, however, these findings also lacked statistical significance.