Diet reduces Alzheimer protein, in mice

	Tweet

Experiments in mice genetically engineered to develop a form of Alzheimer’s disease show that a diet high in saturated fats and low in carbohydrates reduces levels of the protein amyloid-beta in the brain, which is thought to be one of the key factors in the diseases

Previous studies have suggested that diets rich in saturated fats increase the deposition of amyloid-beta and increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, Dr. Samuel T. Henderson and colleagues note in their report in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism. However, those studies did not investigate the effect of a high-fat diet that’s also low in carbohydrates.

In their own experiments, Henderson from Accera, Inc., in Broomfield, Colorado, and colleagues in Belgium used mice that produce high levels of amyloid-beta in the brain and extensive plaque deposition.

Eight of the animals were fed a standard high-carbohydrate low-fat diet. Another eight mice were fed a diet very low in carbohydrates and high in fat for 43 days beginning at three months of age.

Levels of amyloid-beta were significantly reduced—by about 25 percent—during the high-fat low-carb diet, though levels were not related to weight change or brain protein content.

“The data presented here,” Henderson’s group concludes, “suggested that it may not be fats in the diet that increase amyloid-beta levels, but perhaps levels of total calories, carbohydrates, or the metabolic state of the animal.”

SOURCE: Nutrition & Metabolism, October 17, 2005.

RELATED STORIES:
Antibodies, drug, exercise provide Alzheimer’s hope   Obesity May Reduce Brain Gray Matter in Postmenopausal Women   Not so fast - sex differences in the brain are overblown   Compression devices calm restless legs: study   Tip Sheet to the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease 2008   New test detects multiple sclerosis   Stopping the Brain From Hurting Itself   Parents not to blame for hyperactive kids   The Memories You Want to Forget Are the Hardest Ones to Lose   Mayo Clinic study identifies earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease   Healthy lifestyle could reduce Alzheimer’s risk   Driving errors seen in early Alzheimer’s disease

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]