Abstract

Healthy non-pharmacological lifestyle factors, such as regular physical exercise and a dietary supplementation, have been shown to significantly improve cognitive outcomes over time compared to a more sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. Furthermore, exercise may serve as a potential protective factor in attenuating the effects associated with cognitive decline that are characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further, evidence indicates that certain diet interventions can also attenuate the effects of neurodegeneration and positively impact longevity. Supplementation of polyphenols, such as ellagic acid (EA), which are abundant in pomegranate juice, may help provide neuroprotective benefits and elicit a hormetic effect. This study examined the potential neuroprotective potential of EA and exercise and provide insight into the combined use of a polyphenol-rich diet and induced exercise to enhance motor and cognitive outcomes and lifespan in an AD model of Drosophila. Fruit flies that had an intense exercise regimen performed better on a climbing assay than flies that did not exercise. In terms of learning and memory, flies that exercised for 30 minutes or did not exercise passed more trials on a learning and memory assay using an aversive stimulus than flies that exercised more intensely, with flies that exercised 30 minutes performing marginally better than control flies. Additionally, flies displayed a significantly longer lifespan with dietary EA at a concentration of 10% compared to higher concentrations and had a marginally longer lifespan compared to controls.

LLU Discipline

Clinical Psychology

Department

Clinical Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Richard E. Hartman

Second Advisor

Colleen Brenner

Third Advisor

Richelin Dye

Fourth Advisor

Susanne Montgomery

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2026

Date (Title Page)

8-2026

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Alzheimer's disease—Prevention; Neuroprotective agents; Polyphenols—Therapeutic use; Exercise—Physiological aspects

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

ix, 2 p, 68 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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