A cheap fiber supplement can improve your memory in just 12 weeks: scientists say they are ‘excited’ about the discovery

Health
By Liam

By Chris Pollard for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

A daily fiber supplement can improve brain function in people over 60 in just 12 weeks, a study has found.

Researchers from King’s College London found that the pills, which are sold cheaply in health food stores, can improve performance on memory tests linked to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Mary Ni Lochlainn said: “We are delighted to see these changes in just twelve weeks.

“This holds enormous promise for improving brain health and memory in our aging population.

‘Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could provide new approaches to living healthier longer.’

The study, published in Nature Communications, tested two plant fiber supplements, inulin and FOS, to see if they affected muscle health and brain function.

Researchers from King’s College London found that the pills, which are sold cheaply in health food stores, can improve performance on memory tests linked to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, published in Nature Communications, tested two plant fiber supplements, inulin and FOS, to see if they affected muscle health and brain function. The photo shows a brand of inulin supplements, Bioglan, sold on the high street

Changes in humor and increased swearing are all signs of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia that causes problems with behavior and language. According to experts, poor parking and shabby clothes are also signs of the memory-robbing disease. Graphic shows: six signs of Alzheimer's disease

Changes in humor and increased swearing are all signs of Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia that causes problems with behavior and language. According to experts, poor parking and shabby clothes are also signs of the memory-robbing disease. Graphic shows: six signs of Alzheimer’s disease

The pills, which contain plant fibers that help healthy bacteria grow in the intestines, were given to half of 36 twins. The others received placebo tablets.

Everyone in the study also did resistance exercises and ate a protein supplement aimed at improving muscle function.

Although there was no significant change in muscle strength, the subjects taking the fiber supplements performed better in tests that assessed brain function.

They showed improvement on the Paired Associates Learning test, which is an early marker for Alzheimer’s disease, and tests of reaction time and processing speed.

These are important for everyday tasks such as responding to traffic or preventing a simple ride from turning into a fall.

Professor Claire Steves said: ‘These plant fibres, which are cheap and available without a prescription, could benefit a large group of people in these times of money tightness. They are also safe and acceptable.

‘Our next task is to see whether these effects persist over longer periods and in larger groups of people.’

The prevalence of conditions such as cognitive decline and muscle loss is increasing as the world’s population ages.

What is Alzheimer’s disease and how is it treated?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain in which the buildup of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

This disrupts the transmitters that transmit messages and causes the brain to shrink.

More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the sixth leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons suffer from it.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost.

That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason.

The progression of the disease is slow and gradual.

On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some can live another ten to fifteen years.

EARLY SYMPTOMS:

  • Loss of short-term memory
  • Disorientation
  • Behavioral changes
  • Mood swings
  • Problems handling money or making a phone call

LATER SYMPTOMS:

  • Severe memory loss, forgetting close relatives, familiar objects or places
  • Becoming anxious and frustrated about the inability to understand the world, leading to aggressive behavior
  • Eventually you lose the ability to walk
  • May have problems eating
  • The majority will eventually need 24-hour care

HOW IT IS TREATED?

There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

However, there are some treatments available that help relieve some of the symptoms.

One of these is acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which help brain cells communicate with each other.

Another example is menantine, which works by blocking a chemical called glutamate, which can build up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and inhibit mental function.

As the disease progresses, Alzheimer’s patients may exhibit aggressive behavior and/or suffer from depression. Medications may be provided to help relieve these symptoms.

Other non-pharmaceutical treatments, such as mental training to improve memory and combat one aspect of Alzheimer’s disease, are also recommended.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association and the NHS

London Alzheimer’s disease

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