If reports are anything to go by, sugar-rich diet can lead to Alzheimer's disease. On the other hand, gut-healthy diet can prevent the disease.
Individuals who take more sugar-rich diet face the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease, The Telegraph reported. The disease triggers the loss of memory and degenerates brain cells. According to a new study, consuming sugar-rich diets brings the risk of getting the disease.
The study said that the Alzheimer's disease and blood sugar glucose has close connections. Glucose weakens macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), an enzyme that prevents the spread of the disease.
Professor Jean van den Elsen said that generally macrophage migration inhibitory factor will be part of the immune response to the accumulation of abnormal proteins in an individual's brain, and they believe that because sugar damage decreases some functions of MIF and fully inhibits others that this can be a tipping point that enables the neurological disease to develop.
About 50 million individuals throughout the world are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The study, which was published in Scientific Reports, said that greater risk prevails for individuals who are diabetic and obese as they have high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). This results in the accumulation of abnormal proteins in a person's brain.
The study traced the molecular link between Alzheimer's disease and glucose. It also suggested that the sugar risk will not spare individuals without a diabetic history. The study monitored brain samples of individuals who are infected and individuals without Alzheimer's disease.
According to the study, a process known as glycation destroys the enzyme MIF. The enzyme plays an important role in thwarting the spread of the neurological disease in the initial stages. The weakening of the enzyme is the turning point that aggravates the disease.
MIF undergoes modification in an individual's brain at the initial stages of the Alzheimer's disease by the action of glucose. According to scientists, excess sugar is not good when it comes to obesity and diabetes.
According to another study, unhealthy intestinal flora can increase the development of the neural disease. The gut microbiome is extremely responsive to lifestyle and dietary factors. This indicates that a gut-healthy diet can play an important part in preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Frida Fak Hallenius, the author of the study, said that Alzheimer's is a preventable disease and in the coming future they will possibly be able to offer advice on what to eat to prevent the disease. Hallenius further said that people should take care of their gut bacteria by eating vegetables, fruits and whole-grains.