A new study has uncovered a significant link between nutritional status and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that people with Alzheimer’s disease tend to have significantly poorer nutrition than those without Alzheimer’s and that nutritional status worsens as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
Study Findings Explained
The researchers found that certain personal factors made the participants more susceptible to poor nutrition. In particular, lower BMI, smaller calf and hip circumference, lower scores on a nutritional risk index, and lower levels of proteins were all associated with Alzheimer’s disease progression. According to the researchers, the most accurate predictor of Alzheimer’s was a combination of the levels of total protein and albumin in the blood, as well as the participant’s calf circumference.Why Does Alzheimer’s Make Malnutrition Worse?
Malnutrition is the most common nutrition-related issue people with Alzheimer’s face.“It’s important to note that malnutrition is quite common in dementia and that the dementia itself may lead to poor nutrition. In many cases it may be difficult to tease out whether malnutrition is a cause or effect of dementia. Given that dementia usually affects an older population, other causes of malnutrition may also be present,” Leon Barkodar, MD tells The Epoch Times. Dr. Barkodar is a double-board certified neurologist at Neurology Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California.
”Some people may be taking multiple medications which can change the way food tastes, further complicating the issue,” adds Ms. Ali.
How Good Nutrition Can Strengthen Cognition
Cognitive health involves many factors, including thinking, learning, memory, motor function, and emotional regulation. All of these aspects of cognition can be directly impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.“When there is concern for dementia, most neurologists will also check for vitamin/nutritional deficiencies such as B12 levels and folic acid levels further highlighting a nutritional component,” explains Dr. Barkodar. “Some recent studies have also shown that a daily multivitamin may be helpful in reducing the risk of dementia.”
“Following a healthy diet, rich in fruits and veggies, whole grains, seafood and other lean protein sources like legumes, nuts, and seeds has been shown to help reduce the risk of dementia. While the specific mechanisms are not well understood, it is suspected that these foods are full of nutrients that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress and help keep our blood vessels clear from plaque buildup,” explains Ms. Ali.
“The MIND diet has been extensively studied and it has been found that those who follow the diet have a significantly slower rate of cognitive decline,” says Ms. Ali. “The diet is a fairly flexible eating plan that focuses on increasing foods that have a positive impact on brain health. It recommends including berries, leafy greens, whole grains, seafood, legumes, nuts and seeds, and olive oil. It also recommends limiting the amount of foods high in saturated fat, fried foods, and sweets.”
One notable limitation of the study was that the researchers did not note which specific foods within the parameters of either the Mediterranean or MIND diets participants ate in order to achieve their rankings. Future research which tracks participant’s food intake more specifically may be helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of how nutrition affects Alzheimer’s disease over time.
Regardless, it seems clear that early nutritional intervention is the key to reducing the negative effects of malnutrition for Alzheimer’s patients.
