We don’t yet know how to cure Alzheimer’s disease, but scientists are learning more about what increases or decreases our risk of developing it—and one of those risk factors is the diet we’ve become accustomed to in the West.
A new review of 38 studies from the past five years suggests that a Western diet may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in mild to moderate cases of the disease.
On the other hand, the Mediterranean diet, ketogenic dietAnd supplementing the diet with omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics seems to prevent the disease, but only in those mild to moderate cases.
Researchers from several institutes in China have suggested that dietary changes may be one way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and limit the damage to our cognitive abilities.
“Some dietary interventions may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and improve cognitive function and quality of life.” Write The researchers in their published article.
In the research analyzed, these “dietary interventions” improved cognitive function and quality of life in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. They also seem to slow the progression of the disease.
Although we do not know what causes Alzheimer’s, we do know that it causes it to develop Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides And Protein number Congestion in the brain, which causes the breakdown of neurons that are key to thinking and memory.
Based on the research, the way dietary choices affect inflammation may be key here: Western diets high in fat, sugar and salt may be putting our bodies under extra stress, somehow making us more vulnerable to dementia.
“The main mechanisms are based on the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation and the lower concentration of Aβ peptides.” Write The researchers.
The Mediterranean diet is high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and seafood, while the ketogenic diet is a very different, high-fat, low-carb approach to eating. According to the researchers, the keto diet poses no risk to general health and should be used in consultation with a doctor.
Dementia is thought to be more damaging. More than 50 million people In the year Worldwide as of 2020, and the numbers are growing steadily. As the search for a cure continues, finding ways to reduce risk can make a big difference.
Work continues to understand how diet is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and the mechanisms at play — but this study and others like it are helping to give scientists a more accurate picture of how what we eat affects the brain.
“The results show that dietary intervention can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, improve cognitive function and improve the quality of life of these patients.” Write The researchers.
“However, many knowledge gaps remain to be explored, so a thorough study of the relationship between diet and Alzheimer’s disease is recommended.”
The study was published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.