Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have found that a specific kind of Mediterranean diet might help in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Their findings were recently published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, a leading scientific journal on Alzheimer’s research.
The significance of this study is huge given that more than 6.5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s, and one in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.
The study compared a regular low-fat diet with a modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet that focuses on healthy fats and proteins while limiting carbohydrates.
The scientists discovered that this modified diet led to substantial changes in a biological pathway connected to Alzheimer’s disease.
The Study Details and Its Key Findings
The study involved 20 adults, including some with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is often a precursor to Alzheimer’s.
Participants were asked to follow one of the two diets for six weeks and then switch to the other diet after a six-week break.
Stool samples were collected to analyze gut bacteria, as an increasing body of evidence suggests that gut health may be closely related to brain health.
The exciting finding here is that those with mild cognitive impairment who followed the modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet showed changes in levels of a specific chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), as well as changes in bacteria that produce GABA.
This is significant because GABA plays a key role in the brain, and issues with it are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
What’s Next?
Suzanne Craft, Ph.D., who led the research, highlighted that this is the first study to show how this specific diet can affect GABA levels differently in people with mild cognitive impairment.
“We hope this opens the door to new ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease,” Craft said.
The study also revealed that participants who had curcumin (a component found in the spice turmeric) in their diets also showed changes in specific bacteria that regulate bile acids.
Abnormal bile acid levels have been noted in people with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting another potential link between diet and brain health.
Dr. Craft emphasized that more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between diet, gut health, and Alzheimer’s disease.
But these findings bring hope for new dietary strategies that could significantly impact the prevention and treatment of this devastating disease.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about Alzheimer’s might not be primarily a brain disease. A new theory suggests it’s an autoimmune condition and findings of This eye disease linked to higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
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 Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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