THIS diet can protect the brain and prevent Alzheimer's

What you eat affects not just your waistline, but also your brain health. Eating the right foods plays a pivotal role in protecting the brain and even preventing diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The secret to protecting the brain and preventing cognitive decline is right on your plate. Mizzou researchers have recently found that a certain diet can be beneficial for brain health and also prevent Alzheimer’s. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of Neurochemistry.
A diet that protects the brain The researchers at the University of Missouri have found that a high-fat, low-carb diet could be key to improving brain health, even for those with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Think fish and seafood, meat, non-starchy vegetables, berries, nuts, seeds, eggs, and even high-fat dairy products.

The researchers tested how powerful these foods are, and found that a high-fat, low-carb diet, known as the ketogenic diet, may not only preserve brain health, but also stop or slow the signs of cognitive decline for those at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The study

Professor Ai-Ling Lin and doctoral student Kira Ivanich are researching whether a ketogenic diet can help people with the APOE4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

In their study on mice, the researchers found that females with the APOE4 gene had healthier gut bacteria and more brain energy while eating a ketogenic diet compared to a control group eating a higher-carb diet. The same improvements were not seen in males. The new study provides insight into who may benefit the most from eating a ketogenic diet. They discovered that the diet changes how the brain fuels itself.

“When we eat carbs, our brains convert the glucose into fuel for our brains, but those with the APOE4 gene, particularly females, struggle to convert the glucose into brain energy, and this can lead to cognitive decline down the road. By switching to a keto diet, ketones are produced and used as an alternative fuel source. This may decrease the chance of developing Alzheimer’s by preserving the health of brain cells,” Ivanich said, in a statement.

Role of precision nutrition

The study’s findings point at the importance of precision nutrition, tailoring diets and interventions to those who would benefit most. “Instead of expecting one solution to work for everyone, it might be better to consider a variety of factors, including someone’s genotype, gut microbiome, gender, and age. Since the symptoms of Alzheimer’s — which tend to be irreversible once they start — usually appear after age 65, the time to be thinking about preserving brain health is well before then, so hopefully our research can offer hope to many people through early interventions,” Lin said.

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“When my grandmother got Alzheimer’s, that sparked my interest in this topic, so being able to make an impact to help people preserve their brain health is very rewarding. With Mizzou being a leading research university and having a tight-knit community feel, I know I’m at the right place,” Ivanich added.