Diet May Play a Key Role, as a Turning Point, in Many Alzheimer’s Cases

by Diet USA:A new report by University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, states that compelling evidence links Alzheimer to multifactorial risk disorder resulting in low blood circulation to brain (chronic brain hypo-perfusion) during advanced aging.Nutri-Med Logic Corp adds that while the factors mentioned in this report, more specifically, micro-nutrients, trace metals, lipids and pro-oxidants are all associated with the diet but overwhelming number of studies have also pointed to excess pro-inflammatory nutrients, as a key and contributing factor in the development and progression of this diseases.The study by the University of Texas states that two decades of research and over 73,000 research papers has not resulted in a significant progress as to why people get Alzheimer and what could be done to avoid it.Nutri-Med Logic Corp adds that The University of Texas correctly attempts to shift the focus from “how to treat the symptoms” to “how to avoid the key causes” of the Sporadic Alzheimer. According to National Alzheimer’s Council, Sporadic Alzheimer constitutes 90-95% of Alzheimer’s cases.The report blames, in part, micro-nutrients, trace metals, lipids and pro-oxidants as being involved in the development of oxidative stress and neuro-degeneration, in the presence of low blood flow to the brain, seen in Sporadic Alzheimer.Department of Physiological Science, University of California at Los Angeles has studied the relationship between a diet high in saturated fat (lipids) and the decrease in the levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which suggests a high-fat diet affects cognitive function.According to the University of Miami, BDNF is essential for many functions such as neuronal growth and maturation. University of Miami further states that boosting BDNF is thought to be beneficial in several human disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. (Nature Biotechnology, March 25, 2012.)Studies have successfully incorporated the use of anti-oxidants as a mean to combat the drop in BDNF levels, due to oxidative stress caused by the high-fat diet. (Eur J Neurosci. 2004 Apr;19(7):1699-707.)Attempts to increase the BNDF levels either through medication, gene therapy or simply through diet (anti-oxidants) coincides with the finding of the University of Texas, which points to lipids (fat) and pro-oxidant (causing oxidative stress) as two of the key factors.While the high-fat diet is a matter of choice, factors such as metals and pro-oxidants are mainly counteracted by an internal antioxidant called Glutathione, which its levels drops by age. None-the-less, Glutathione can be increased through diet, more specifically through supplementation of a nutrient called R-Alpha Lipoic.Additionally, several studies have determined that the structure within the neuronal cell membrane bilayer, more specifically Omega-3 (anti-inflammatory) / Omega-6 (Pro-inflammatory) ratio, is associated to detrimental or beneficial effects in Alzheimer’s. In animal studies, Omega-6 (abundant in red meat) resulted in significantly higher secretion of Abeta-40 and Abeta-42 proteins (both implicated in Alzheimer’s) compared to Omega-3 diet and that an early-onset of Alzheimer’s has corroborated with the in-vitro findings that lower levels of Abeta in the brain were associated with low fat-diet enriched in Omega-3. J. of Biol. Chem. 2010 Oct 22. (Epub).