A groundbreaking study from the University of Barcelona has revealed a significant link between dietary fiber intake and reduced cognitive decline in older individuals carrying a specific genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Published in the journal Age and Ageing, the study provides hope for targeted dietary interventions in aging populations.
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a protein with various functions, synthesized in the body by liver cells, fat cells, and others.
The gene responsible for ApoE, located on chromosome 19, has three alleles (ε2, ε3, ε4) leading to different genetic variants. The ApoE ε4 variant is considered a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
The study’s focus was on understanding the impact of dietary choices, particularly fiber intake, on individuals with the ApoE ε4 genotype, who are more susceptible to cognitive decline and dementia.
Conducted as part of the InCHIANTI project, the study observed 1,139 adults over 65 from Tuscany. Of these, 848 volunteers (56% women, average age 74) were closely monitored.
Their diets, cognitive states, and other health parameters were evaluated every three years for fifteen years.
The research, led by Professor Cristina Andrés-Lacueva and her team, discovered that an increase of five grams per day in dietary fiber was linked to a 30% reduction in the risk of cognitive decline in participants with the ApoE ε4 haplotype.
This association was not observed in individuals with other ApoE genetic variants (ApoE ε2 and ApoE ε3).
The findings indicate that elderly individuals with the ApoE ε4 variant could significantly benefit from increased fiber intake.
This opens new avenues for research into the interaction between the ApoE genotype and dietary habits, which remains largely unexplored.
Tomàs Meroño, one of the study’s authors, emphasizes the importance of identifying modifiable risk factors like diet to develop effective prevention strategies against cognitive decline, a precursor to dementia.
The study highlights the potential of dietary modifications, specifically increasing fiber intake, in mitigating the risk of cognitive decline in older adults with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease.
This research is a step forward in understanding the complex interplay between genetics, diet, and brain health in the elderly.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and Coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Age and Aging.
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