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.com
Volume 8
Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
ISSN: 2161-0460
Dementia 2018
October 29-31, 2018
October 29-31, 2018 | Valencia, Spain
12
th
International Conference on
Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia
Khat, a natural amphetamine, worsens cognitive and behavioural outcomes following repetitive mild
traumatic brain injury
Mong’are Newnex Brian and Nilesh B Patel
University of Nairobi, Kenya
M
ild repetitive brain injury (mild TBI) frequently occurs in contact sports. It has received more attention in recent years
following suggestions that it may lead to neurodegenerative, neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric consequences. The
course of these neurological effects may be influenced by the use of psycho stimulants during training and competition. The
plant (Catha edulis Forsk) khat, synthesizes cathinone, an amphetamine like psycho stimulant. Khat is consumed widely in
Eastern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and likely used in sports of these regions. We investigated if khat would alter
the neurological outcomes in a mouse model of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (RmTBI). Adult male Swiss albino mice
were randomly assigned into four groups: control (CON); khat treated (K); repetitive mild TBI without khat treatment (rmTBI)
and; repetitive mild TBI with khat treatment (rmTBI+K). RmTBI was simulated using a modified protocol of the Wayne State
USA weight drop model, where the mice received a single mild head injury daily for five days. Freeze dried extracts of fresh
khat was administered by an I.P. injection every day for five days, 15 minutes before injury induction. In the rmTBI+K, there
was significant increase in righting reflex time, working memory deficits at day 15 in a spontaneous-alternation task in a
T-maze, reduced grooming time on day 30 in the depression splash test and longer time to complete the difficult tasks in
the puzzle box on day 60. Compared to CON, the rmTBI group performed poorly in the same tests, but the difference was
not statistically significant. The performance of the K and CON groups were similar. The results show that rmTBI resulted in
deficits in behaviour and cognitive function on a long-term basis and these deficits are worsened by khat.
newnexmongare@yahoo.comJ Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2161-0460-C7-055