Our findings apparently conflict with previously published studies demonstrating that dietary restriction can improve cognitive function (Halagappa et al., 2007; Wu et al., 2008), prevent amyloid accumulation (Patel et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2005; Halagappa et al., 2007) and reduce tau phosphorylation (Halagappa et al., 2007; Wu et al., 2008) in mouse models of AD. This evidence concerns the gene MAPT and Alzheimer disease.