Does Nutrition Affect Alzheimer's Disease Progression?

●     A recent study from China suggests that malnutrition could be a contributing factor to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, with the disease's progression exacerbating malnutrition.

●     Improved attention to individuals' nutritional requirements is envisioned to potentially lower the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

●     The study examined two specific diets: the Mediterranean and MIND.

A recent study from China looked into how Alzheimer's disease (AD) and not getting enough nutrients might affect each other.

The study found that spotting people who aren't getting enough nutrients early and helping them eat better might lower their risk of getting Alzheimer's.

Once someone has Alzheimer's, they often start to get even fewer nutrients, making the situation worse as the disease gets more severe.

Interestingly, as people around the world are living longer, the number of new cases of dementia related to ageing has gone down in many places. This is likely because of better nutrition, education, healthcare, and lifestyle choices.

Experts think that 12 things we can change, like getting more education, keeping blood pressure in check, not smoking, staying healthy, dealing with depression, staying active, managing diabetes, and having friends around, could prevent 40% of dementia worldwide.

Other research has shown that in people with mild cognitive issues, losing weight might be an early sign of their thinking skills getting worse. Also, as Alzheimer's progresses, people tend to become more malnourished, as shown by lower weight and changes in body composition.

In this Chinese study, 266 people participated. Some were healthy, while others had mild cognitive issues or dementia due to Alzheimer's. The researchers checked their health by taking blood samples and measuring their bodies.

In the study, researchers looked at how well people's diets matched the Mediterranean (MED) diet and the MIND diet, a mix of the Mediterranean and DASH diets aimed at slowing down brain ageing.

They found that, overall, there was a small difference in how closely the three groups followed these diets. However, people with more advanced Alzheimer's had slightly lower diet scores than those with mild cognitive issues or normal brain function.

The study didn't specify which foods helped people get their scores, like whether they ate a lot of green vegetables, nuts, olive oil, or fish.

Studies on nutrition can be challenging, and there is a call for more detailed, well-planned studies in this area.

The study found that lower body weight, smaller calf and hip sizes, and lower nutrition assessment scores were linked to Alzheimer's and lower blood levels of certain proteins.

The best way to predict Alzheimer's was to look at the levels of total protein and a protein called albumin in the blood, along with the size of the calf muscle.

The most clear-cut sign of moving from mild cognitive issues to full-blown Alzheimer's was seen in the nutrition assessment score.

The study didn't talk about it, but there's an interesting topic about how changes in the gut bacteria might affect how nutrients are absorbed, the body's energy balance, and overall brain health.

As Alzheimer's disease gets worse, people with the condition often start to get less of the nutrients they need. This could be because Alzheimer's itself makes nutrition harder to maintain, or it could be that not getting enough nutrients in the first place makes the disease worse over time.

There are both biological reasons, like how the body works, and social reasons, like needing help from others, that might make malnutrition more common in people with Alzheimer's.

A nutrition expert pointed out that people with Alzheimer's might find it hard to eat properly because of issues like trouble chewing and swallowing, changes in how things taste and smell, forgetting to eat, problems making meals, and feeling upset or not interested in food. These issues can make it hard to get enough nutrients.

One issue is that if someone can't feed themselves and rely on others for food, and if they can't properly show they're hungry, getting enough nutrition becomes a real challenge.

The MED and MIND diets are inspired by how people eat around the Mediterranean Sea. Both are great for heart health and can help with weight loss, especially when you're also active and social.

These diets are good for your brain, too. The MED diet is all about eating many plants like veggies, fruits, beans, and whole grains in meals and as snacks. It includes healthy fats like olive oil, a bit of fish, less meat or eggs, and avoiding processed foods.

The MIND diet mixes the MED diet with the DASH diet, which is about stopping high blood pressure. It zeroes in on foods that help keep your brain sharp.

This diet loves "leafy greens, leafy greens, leafy greens" and adds things like berries, nuts, beans, whole grains, fish, chicken, and olive oil. It says to eat less red meat, butter, cheese, sweets, and fried or fast foods.

Some foods, like blueberries, strawberries, and other berries, are packed with stuff for your memory and thinking skills. Colourful fruits and veggies are also a big thumbs-up.

Seeds like sesame and flax are full of healthy fats and brain-boosting compounds. Whole grains like oats, barley, and quinoa keep your brain fueled and support its work.

Fish, especially those with lots of omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, is key in the MIND diet for brain health.

But it's important to balance these diets well to avoid losing muscle, which can affect Alzheimer's progression. Talking to a nutrition expert to make a food plan that is right for you might be a good idea.

If you're looking to adopt the MED or MIND diet and need guidance, Mobi Doctor can help. Our team can offer personalised advice and support to fit your health goals.