Can We Help Prevent Alzheimer’s With Diet?

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Current research suggests that adherence to healthy dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets, may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. These diets are rich in neuroprotective nutrients such as antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and B vitamins. While the ketogenic diet shows promise, more research is needed to confirm its efficacy. Conversely, unhealthy diets high in fats and sugars are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Overall, adopting a balanced and nutrient-rich diet appears to be a promising strategy for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. With no definitive cure available, the focus has shifted towards preventive strategies, including dietary interventions. This synthesis explores the potential role of diet in preventing Alzheimer’s disease based on recent research findings.

Key Insights

• Mediterranean Diet and Cognitive Health:
  • Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline1 2 3 5 6 7 9 10.
  • The Mediterranean diet’s benefits are attributed to its high content of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other neuroprotective nutrients1 2 5 6 9 10.
• DASH and MIND Diets:
  • The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diets are also linked to lower risks of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease5 6 7 9 10.
  • These diets emphasize the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, which are believed to have neuroprotective effects5 6 7 9 10.
• Ketogenic Diet:
  • Emerging evidence suggests that a ketogenic diet, which is low in carbohydrates and high in fats, may help mitigate Alzheimer’s disease pathology by providing ketones as an alternative energy source and reducing amyloid plaque accumulation4.
• Nutrient-Specific Effects:
  • Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins have been identified as potentially protective against Alzheimer’s disease, although results from randomized controlled trials are inconsistent1 5 6.
  • Combination supplements like Souvenaid show small cognitive benefits, but the overall evidence remains inconclusive6.
• Unhealthy Diets and Increased Risk:
  • Diets high in fats, sugars, and processed foods are associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline3.

 

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Yoram Barak has answered Near Certain

An expert from University of Otago in Gerontology

A nutritional plan, appropriately known by the acronym MIND, could significantly lower a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, even if the diet is not meticulously followed.

The MIND diet lowered the risk of AD by as much as 53% in participants who adhered to the diet rigorously, and by about 35% in those who followed it moderately well.

The original study’s summary is:

Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Sep;11(9):1015-22.

MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging.

Morris MC(1), Tangney CC(2), Wang Y(3), Sacks FM(4), Barnes LL(5), Bennett DA(6), Aggarwal NT(6).

INTRODUCTION: The Mediterranean and dash diets have been shown to slow cognitive decline; however, neither diet is specific to the nutrition literature on dementia prevention.

METHODS: We devised the Mediterranean-Dietary Approach to Systolic Hypertension (DASH) diet intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND) diet score that specifically captures dietary components shown to be neuroprotective and related it to change in cognition over an average 4.7 years among 960 participants of the Memory and Aging Project.

RESULTS: In adjusted mixed models, the MIND score was positively associated with slower decline in global cognitive score (β = 0.0092; P < .0001) and with each of five cognitive domains. The difference in decline rates for being in the top tertile of MIND diet scores versus the lowest was equivalent to being 7.5 years younger in age.

DISCUSSION: The study findings suggest that the MIND diet substantially slows cognitive decline with age. Replication of these findings in a dietary intervention trial would be required to verify its relevance to brain health.

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Joseph F Quinn has answered Likely

An expert from Oregon Health & Science University in Neurology

Vascular risk factors are risk factors for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A heart healthy diet (the AHA diet, or the mediterranean diet) reduces vascular risk and is likely to reduce dementia risk as well. While there are no well-controlled clinical trials to prove this assertion, there are many observational studies that support the idea. (And it won’t hurt anyone to adhere to a heart-healthy diet.)

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Rosanna Squitti has answered Near Certain

An expert from IRCCS, Centro San Giovanni di Dio in Neurobiology

Alzheimer’s disease shares the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease that can be prevented with specific and low caloric content diets. On these bases and on evidence regarding the involvement of the transition metals that play an important role also in cardiovascular diseases, we can say that Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented. A seminal article authored by Barnard an colleagues (Barard et al Neurobiol Aging 2014) some of the nutritional and life style factors to be favored to prevent this neurodegenerative disease have been recommended to the public.

The seven guidelines to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease are summarized as follows:

1. Minimize intake of saturated and trans-unsaturated fats. Saturated fats are mainly found in dairy products, meat and some oils (coconut and palm oils). Trans-unsaturated fats are found in many snacks, and are listed on labels as “partially hydrogenated oils” (N. Barnard, M.C Morris, J. Cooper).
2. Consume foods of plant origin. Vegetables, legumes (beans, peas and lentils), fruit and whole grains that should replace meats and dairy products as primary sources of the diet. (C. A. De Jager, M. C. Morris, G. Fraser).
3. Take 15 mg of vitamin E from food every day. Vitamin E should come from foods rather than supplements. Food sources rich in vitamin E include seeds, nuts, green leafy vegetables and whole grains. The recommended dose of vitamin E is 15 milligrams per day (M.C. Morris).
4. Take a supplement with vitamin B12. The recommended daily dose is 2.4 micrograms per day for adults, and should be part of our daily diet. It is advised to check the blood levels of vitamin B12 regularly, as many factors, including age, compromise absorption.
5. Avoid multivitamin supplements and complexes in which iron and copper are present over the recommended daily dose, equal to 14 milligrams for iron and 1 milligram for copper. Take supplements containing iron only when prescribed by your doctor (A.I. Bush, A. Ceccarelli, R. Squitti, G.J.Brewer). It is important to clarify that these specific guidelines are aimed at adults and who have difficulty in the metabolism of copper, i.e. they eliminate it with more difficulty. In fact, it must be remembered that this metal is a catalyst of multiple vital functions and becomes dangerous only when a metabolic error releases in circulation a quantity greater than that tolerated in the form of non-Ceruloplasminic copper, so-called free copper, not bound to proteins and able to cross the barrier that separates blood from the brain. In this form copper reaches the richest areas of beta-amyloid protein, which forms the Alzheimer’s plaques in the brain areas that control memory. Copper transfers its catalyst properties to beta-amyloid, triggering oxidative stress reactions that contribute to brain cell death. It is useful to check the levels of non-ceruloplasminic copper before doing any diet, and this can be done by testing the Non-Ceruloplasminic copper in the blood. Only people with the test results above threshold should avoid the intake of foods with a high content of copper, such as the liver of adult bovine animals, seafood such as mussels and clams, which should be consumed in moderate quantities by these people (R. Squitti).

6. Choose products without aluminum. Although the toxic effect of aluminum in Alzheimer’s disease is still a hotly debated issue, those wishing to minimize their exposure to this metal can avoid the use of pots, antacids, yeast, or other products that contain aluminum (N. Barnard)
7. Exercise of 120 minutes each week. Include aerobic exercise in the routine, equivalent to 40 minutes of fast walking, three times a week (K.I. Erikson).

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

John T Weber has answered Likely

An expert from Memorial University of Newfoundland in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Toxicology

I don’t believe that we can say with certainty that a specific type of diet can prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but there is strong evidence that some types of foods can inhibit signs of the disease or at least may slow the progression of the disease. My lab group has recently reviewed the protective effects of various species of berries (Kelly et al., 2017, Molecules), which discusses the neuroprotective effects of berries, and the compounds within them, against degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. For example, Shukitt-Hale et al., 2009 showed that rats fed a diet rich in blackberries had improved memory performance compared to animals on a control diet. In addition, Joseph et al. (1999), demonstrated that a diet rich in blueberries could protect rats from age-related memory dysfunction. These are just a few experimental studies that demonstrate a positive effect of a berry-enriched diet on age-related neurodegeneration. Therefore overall, the evidence is quite strong in support of a berry-enriched diet being protective against AD.

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

B P Imbimbo has answered Likely

An expert from Chiesi Farmaceutici R&D in Pharmacology, Neurodegenerative Disease

Oxidative stress and vascular impairment are believed to partly mediate age-related cognitive decline, a strong risk factor for development of dementia. Epidemiologic studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet, an antioxidant-rich cardioprotective dietary pattern, delays cognitive decline, but clinical trial evidence is lacking. A 4-year controlled study 447 cognitively healthy elderly volunteers has demonstrated that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extravirgin olive oil (1 L/wk) or Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts (30 g/d), or a control diet (advice to reduce dietary fat) has demonstrated that a Mediterranean diet  supplemented with olive oil or nuts is associated with improved cognitive function (Valls-Pedret et al. JAMA Intern Med 2015; 175: 1094-1103). Specifically, participants allocated to a Mediterranean diet plus olive oil scored better on the RAVLT (p=0.049) and Color Trail Test part 2 (p=0.04) compared with controls. Changes from baseline of the global cognition composite were 0.05 (-0.11 to 0.21; p=0.005 vs controls) for the Mediterranean diet plus olive oil, -0.05 (-0.27 to 0.18) for the Mediterranean diet plus nuts, and -0.38 (-0.57 to -0.18) for the control diet. Trial registration: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN35739639.

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Joanna Bartkowiak-Wieczorek has answered Likely

An expert from Poznan University of Medical Sciences  in Pharmacology

It is believed that magnesium (magnesium ion) is a critical factor in the control of synapse density and plasticity. The results obtained in mice suggest that the increase in magnesium levels in the brain shows significant protective effects on synapses in the mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease through protective action on NMDA receptors in the hippocampus and stabilization of BACE1 expression and may have a potential therapeutic effect in the treatment AD in humans [Li et al., 2013. Elevation of Brain Magnesium Prevents and Reverses. Cognitive Deficits and Synaptic Loss in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model]. It has been also observed that Rosmarinus officinalis extracts potentiated cell differentiation and significantly enhanced Acetylocholine-esterase activity in cells cultures. In summary, magnesium and Rosmarinus officinalis may prevent Alzheimer’s disease development.

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Cai Song has answered Likely

An expert from Dalhousie University in Pharmacology, Neurodegenerative Disease

Diets that can exert anti-inflammatory effects and nurish the brain should be helpful.

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Musthafa Mohamed Essa has answered Likely

An expert from Sultan Qaboos University in Neurodegenerative Disease, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Neurobiology

We all know that “Food can act as medicine” (Ref: Hippocrates). If some one is having healthy diet (Example: Mediterranean diet) with proper physical activity (at least 30 minutes per day) and less screen time will delay progression of neuro-degenerative disease conditions including Alzheimer’s disease. For example, diet rich in walnuts could delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (Muthaiyah B, Essa MM et al., 2014) by improving memory deficits and learning skills in transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Further we have also proven that Pomegranate intake for long term (15 months) could offer benefit for Alzheimer’s by improving behavior and synaptic dysfunction (Subash et al., 2015; Essa et al., 2015; Braidy et al., 2016). This was also supported by Hartman et al., 2006. These neuroprotective effects were associated with reduced β-site cleavage of Amyloid Precursor Protein in APPsw/Tg2576 mice. Therefore, long-term supplementation with pomegranates can attenuate AD pathology by reducing inflammation, and altering APP-dependent processes. Also studies proved that people consume Mediterranean diet has less prevalence of Alzheimer’s.

 

Can we help prevent Alzheimer’s with diet?

Auriel A Willette has answered Near Certain

An expert from Iowa State University in Alzheimer’s Disease, Neuroimaging, Genetics, Immunology, Endocrinology

Obesity in middle age and early old age is a very strong risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Obesity often leads to decreased “good” cholesterol, excess glucose in the blood that can cause pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, and other conditions that each raise AD risk.

While there are no “superfoods” that have been shown to significantly affect AD onset or progression of the disease, reducing calorie intake may have beneficial effects on cognition and the brain. The original FINGER study, for example, has shown some improvement in cognition by a multi-domain intervention that includes tailored dietary advice.