What this means
Aging is the major risk factor for cognitive impairment via aging-induced neuronal dysfunction. D-allulose, a low-calorie rare sugar, has been shown to provide beneficial effects in the obese-insulin-resistant brain.
A plain-English summary is on its way. Until then, this is the start of the authors' own summary.
- Who it was tested in
- Not stated
- Kind of research
- A study
The science
- Original title
- A Rare Sugar, D-Allulose, Attenuates Cognitive Impairment and Brain Pathologies in D-Galactose-Accelerated Aging Rats.
- Authors
- Huang Y, Thonusin C, Lu D et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of nutrition
- Published
- Oct 26, 2026
- Study type
- Study
- PMID
- 42933653 ↗
Abstract
Background
Aging is the major risk factor for cognitive impairment via aging-induced neuronal dysfunction. D-allulose, a low-calorie rare sugar, has been shown to provide beneficial effects in the obese-insulin-resistant brain. However, its beneficial effects on the aging brain have never been investigated. This study investigated whether D-allulose could attenuate cognitive impairment and brain pathological alterations in a D-galactose-accelerated aging model.
What they did
Thirty-two 5-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly allocated by cage drawing lots into four groups (n = 8 rats/group): control (Con), D-galactose (D-gal), D-galactose + inulin (D-gal + Inu), and D-galactose + D-allulose (D-gal + Allu). The control group received normal saline solution (NSS; 1 mL/kg/day, s.c.), whereas the other three groups received D-galactose (150 mg/kg/day, s.c.) for 20 weeks. Beginning at week 9, the D-gal-treated groups additionally received NSS, inulin (2.0 g/kg/day), or D-allulose (1.9 g/kg/day), respectively, by oral gavage for 12 weeks. Following the treatment, spatial learning and memory were assessed using the Morris water maze. Brain pathological alterations were evaluated using Western blot, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining, mitochondrial functional assessments, and electrophysiological recordings.
What they found
D-galactose exposure reduced target quadrant entries in the Morris Water Maze (5.6 ± 0.89 vs 7.6 ± 0.42, P = 0.021) and lowered the mean normalized hippocampal fEPSP slope (99.0% ± 1.86% vs 162.0% ± 21.79%, P = 0.009) compared with controls. D-allulose increased target quadrant entries (7.4 ± 0.50 vs 5.6 ± 0.89, P = 0.042) and the mean normalized hippocampal fEPSP slope (155.5% ± 8.95% vs 99.0% ± 1.86%, P = 0.018) compared with the D-gal group. However, inulin did not significantly alter these outcomes. Mitochondrial ROS production and brain MDA levels were also lower in D-gal + Allu group than in D-gal group (P = 0.023 and P = 0.013, respectively). D-allulose mitigates aging-associated brain dysfunction and pathological alterations in D-galactose-accelerated aging model.
The authors' abstract, grouped under plain headings from its own section labels.
Huang Y, Thonusin C, Lu D et al. A Rare Sugar, D-Allulose, Attenuates Cognitive Impairment and Brain Pathologies in D-Galactose-Accelerated Aging Rats. The Journal of nutrition. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101903. PMID: 42933653. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42933653/