A new research study shows that taking a daily fiber supplement can improve brain function in people over 60 in just 12 weeks, offering a potentially cost-effective way to combat early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. I understand that.
Daily fiber supplement strengthens brain function in older adults without affecting muscle strength, promises easy dietary addition to fight early Alzheimer’s disease signs.
A daily fiber supplement improved brain function in over 60s in just 12 weeks.
This recently published study nature communications Researchers from King’s College London’s School of Life and Population Sciences have found that this simple, inexpensive addition to the diet may improve performance on memory tests associated with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. I showed it.
However, the prebiotic supplements inulin and FOS were found to have no effect on muscle strength over this period.
“We’re excited to see such changes in just 12 weeks. This holds great promise in improving brain health and memory in an aging population. The Secrets of the Gut-Brain Axis Understanding this may lead to new approaches to living longer, healthier lives.”
— Lead author Dr. Mary nee Rochline, Twin Research Division
As the world’s population continues to age, the prevalence of age-related symptoms such as cognitive decline and muscle weakness is increasing. Researchers at TwinsUK, the UK’s largest adult twin registry based at King’s College London, used two inexpensive, commercially available plant fiber supplements, inulin and FOS, to improve They sought to understand how targeting the microbiome, a diverse group of microorganisms, could affect both. Muscle health and brain function.
Researchers assigned 36 pairs of twins (72 people) over the age of 60 to take either a placebo or a supplement daily for 12 weeks. Neither the analysis team nor the participants knew which one they received until the analysis was completed (double-blind). In addition to this, all study participants did strength training and took protein supplements aimed at improving muscle function.
Researchers remotely monitored participants through video, online questionnaires, and cognitive tests. They found that fiber supplements led to significant changes in the participants’ gut microbiome composition, particularly an increase in the number of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria.
Although there was no significant difference in muscle strength between the groups, the group that took dietary fiber supplements did better on tests that assess brain function, including the Paired Associates Learning Test, an early marker of Alzheimer’s disease, and tests of reaction time and processing ability. achieved better results. speed. These measures are important for daily life. For example, they can respond to traffic accidents or prevent simple trips from leading to falls.
“These plant fibers are cheap and available over the counter and could benefit a wide range of people in these cash-strapped times. They are safe and acceptable. Our next challenge is to develop these The idea is to see if the effects persist over longer periods of time and in larger populations.”
— Lead author Professor Claire Steves, Professor of Aging and Health
Another novel aspect of this study was its remote design, demonstrating the feasibility of conducting clinical trials in older adults that do not require extensive travel or hospital visits and can be conducted in many settings around the world. . Challenges such as digital literacy and access to the necessary technology have been recognized and will be addressed in future large-scale projects aimed at improving the quality of life of aging populations around the world.
Reference: “The impact of gut microbiome regulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomized controlled trial” Mary Ni Lochlainn, Ruth CE Bowyer, Janne Marie Moll, María Paz García, Samuel Wadge, Andrei-Florin Baleanu, Ayrun Nessa, By Alyce Sheedy, Garther Akder, Deborah Hart, Julia Raffaele, Paul T. Seed, Caroline Murphy, Stephen DR. Harridge, Ailsa A. Welch, Carolyn Greig, Kevin Whelan, Claire J. Steves, February 29, 2024, nature communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46116-y
This research was supported by grants from the King’s Center for Aging Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE) and the National Institute for Health Research and the Wellcome Trust.
