The Alzheimer’s Prevention Diet

Many studies have been published with different results ranging from no effect at all, as reported in a study in Sweden[i], to over a 90% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, as reported in a study in Finland and Sweden which compared those with the a ‘healthy’ versus unhealthy diet in mid-life for future risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia 14 years later. Those who ate the healthiest diet had an 86-90% decreased risk of developing dementia and a 90-92% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.[ii]

Many of these studies are similar in design, by looking at mid-life diet then tracking a group of people over time to see who does or doesn’t develop dementia or its most common type, Alzheimer’s disease. Many also look at some measure of coherence to a ‘Mediterranean’ diet, which usually means eating more fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, as well as more fish, less meat and sometimes some or more wine. Others compare to the standard recommendations for a ‘healthy’ diet made by the country’s authorities. Some foods or drinks could go either way. For example, some studies suggest coffee drinking might reduce risk, yet coffee increases homocysteineHomocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood. Elevated levels of homocysteine have been associated with narrowing and hardening of the arteries, an increased… levels, which is a strong predictor of risk. Alcohol consumption, especially red wine, may reduce risk in moderation but possibly increase risk in excess.

Another way to answer the question regarding the best anti-dementia diet is to look at studies that have linked specific foods or drinks to risk of cognitive decline then build up the brain-friendly diet from there. These studies can also help define how much of the food or drink is optimal, or too much for those foods or drinks that increase risk.

Protective Foods

One of the first good studies was carried out in Norway more than a decade ago by Eha Nurk and Helga Refsum and colleagues in Norway.[iii] [iv] They found that:

Tea – the more you drink the better. The tea benefit has been confirmed more recently in a study in Singapore, with green tea being marginally better than black tea.[v] However, this benefit was not found in a UK Biobank study, which reported by tea and coffee drinking to be associated with worsening cognition compared to abstainers.[vi]

Chocolate – peaks at 10g, or about 3 pieces – and let’s say dark, 70%+ thus with less sugar is more likely to be better, as sugar is a strong indicator of cognitive decline. More recent studies giving cocoa, a rich source of flavanols, have shown improved cognition, possibly by improving circulation.[vii]

Wine – consumption reduced risk up to 125g a day, which is a small glass. A study in the British Medical Journal in 2018 showed that while abstinence increased risk by 48% having more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which is equivalent to a medium glass of wine every day, increases risk.[viii]

Grains and potatoes – reached a plateau at 100 to 150g a day, which is one or two servings max. High fibreFibre is an important part of a balanced diet. There are two type of fibre; soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fibre helps your bowel to pass… bread was the most beneficial carb food. White bread increased risk.Fruit and veg – although the more you eat the better, benefits start to plateau at 500g a day, which is about five to six servings a day. Of individual vegetables, carrots, cruciferous vegetables and citrus fruit were the most positive as were mushrooms. A more recent study in the US found that those who ate 1.3 portions of green leafy vegetables a day, compared to less than one a week, had a dramatically slower decline in cognitive function, equivalent to being 11 years younger over a 10-year period. Berries are particularly protective, especially blueberries and strawberries.[ix]

Fish – is the most protective. Nurk’s study found a peak benefit at about 100g a day, which is one to two servings. A study of all studies by National Institutes of Health researcher, Beydoun, reported that eating fish once or more each week reduces risk of Alzheimer’s by a third compared with those who eat fish less than once a week.[x]

Olive oil and nuts – seem to be positive aspects associated with a Mediterranean diet.[xi] One study assigned people to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with either a litre a week of olive oil or 30g of nuts a day which is a small handful, versus a control diet with low fatThere are many different types of fats; polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, hydrogenated, saturated and trans fat. The body requires good fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) in order to… and reported reduced cognitive decline with the extra olive oil or nuts. [xii]

Protective Diets

Early studies on the Mediterranean style diet reported that high adherence versus low adherence reduced risk of Alzheimer’s by a third.[xiii][xiv] A study which followed 2,000 people over 20 years found that adherence to what they defined as healthy diet which meant ‘modifying the quality of fats, increasing vegetable consumption, and decreasing salt and sugar consumption’ was associated with a halving of dementia risk. With the exception of sugar, no individual food predicted risk significantly.[xv]

But the problem with studies like this is the assumptions. In this case ‘modifying the quality of fats’ means using vegetable oils as opposed to margarine or butter and not eating the visible fat on meat. Vegetable oils is rather vague – it could be olive oil or something like sunflower oil. The assumption is that a low-fat diet might be beneficial, yet a high fat, low carb (HFLC) ketogenic diet appears to be protective.

A study in Holland reported ‘that better diet quality related to larger brain volume, grey matter volume, white matter volume, and hippocampal volume. High intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, dairy, and fish and low intake of sugar-containing beverages were associated with larger brain volumes.’[xvi]

Harmful Foods and Diets

Sugar – be it sucroseSucrose is commonly known as table sugar…. (white sugar) or fructoseFructose is a simple sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables and their juices, as well as in honey…. comes out consistently negative. Studies report poorer cognition associated with intake of sugar-sweetened beverages in adults (Ye 2011).

Animal studies show sucrose and fructose both impair cognition and brain health (Lakhan 2013) (Orr 2014) which is all consistent with the with the fact that diabetes is a risk factor for cognitive decline (see ‘Is Sugar Killing Your Brain’ [xxxadd link https://foodforthebrain.org/is-sugar-killing-your-brain/ ) and supported by recent human studies on blood glucose as a major predictor of Alzheimer’s and dementia later in life.[xvii]

Even so-called ‘high’ levels within the  normal reference range for blood glucose are linked to decreased grey matter in the brain.[xviii]

The most recent and substantial study relates to ultra-processed foods following around 70,000 people over a decade. The more ultra-processed foods eaten the higher was the risk for both dementia, Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.[xix] Replacing just 10 per cent of ultra-processed food by weight in one’s diet with an equivalent proportion of unprocessed or minimally processed foods was estimated to lower risk of dementia by 19%. So, get off the junk. Choose whole foods only.

What is it about what you eat that could be protective?

The best candidates are foods high in

• AntioxidantAntioxidants are substances that protect cells within the body from damage caused by free radicals. They help to strengthen the body’s ability to fight infection… vitamins (C and E)
• Fruit and vegetables
• Flavanols
• Vitamin DWhat it does: Helps maintain strong and healthy bones by retaining calcium. Deficiency Signs: Joint pain or stiffness, backache, tooth decay, muscle cramps, hair loss….
• Fish and omega-3 fats
• Folate and other B vitamins including b12, only found in animal foods
• Phospholipids, found in eggs and fish

Apart from the studies above it is certainly logical to include choline rich foods sources, as a source for phospholipids. In animal studies, giving choline slows down Alzheimer’s disease development.[xx]

Also, consuming two tablespoons C-8 oil, a form of medium chain triglycerideTriglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood – the body uses them for energy. However, high levels of triglycerides can raise the…, has been shown to enhance cognition in those with mild cognitive impairment and elevate neuronal energy derived from ketones both in those with MCI and Alzheimer’s.[xxi] Given the preponderance of neurons to prefer ketones to glucose for fuel, and the evidence for benefit, such dietary practices such as 18:6 (eating all food within a 6 hour window) or starting the day with a Hybrid Latté, almost carb-free, high in cacao, C8 oil and almonds from carb-free almond milk and almond butter or following a low carb, high fat (LCHF) ketogenic diet, which has been shown to have beneficial for those with Alzheimer’s,[xxii] should be considered.

The Key Components of a Diet Design to Protect Brain Health & Reduce Cognitive Decline

Although in some respects conjectural calling on all this evidence, especially given the other health-promoting benefits of these foods, the key components of a diet designed to protect brain health and reduce risk of cognitive decline are:

Eat essential fats and phospholipids

• Eat an egg a day, or six eggs a week – preferably free-range, organic, and high in omega-3s. Boil, scramble or poach them, but avoid frying.
• Eat a tablespoon of seeds and nuts every day – the best seeds are chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin, higher in omega-3. They’re delicious sprinkled on cereal, soups, and salads. The best nuts are walnuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts. Each are high in omega-3 but all nuts, including almonds, hazelnuts and unsalted peanuts are good sources of proteinProteins are large molecules consisting of chains of amino acids. Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body – they are a building block of… and minerals.
• Eat cold-water, oily carnivorous fish – have a serving of herring, mackerel, salmon or sardines two or three times a week (limit tuna, unless identified as low in mercury, to three times a month). Vegans need to supplement algal omega-3 DHADHA is short for Docosahexaenoic Acid. It is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring, and is often…, as well as choline or lecithin capsules or granules, rich in phosphatidyl choline.
• Use cold-pressed olive oil for salad dressings and other cold uses, such as drizzling on vegetables instead of butter. Substitute frying with steam frying with olive oil, coconut oil or butter, e.g. for onions and garlic, then adding a watery sauce such as lemon juice, tamari and water, to ‘steam’, for example, vegetables perhaps with tofu, fish or chicken.

Eat slow-release carbohydrates

• Eat wholefoods – whole grains, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, and vegetables – and avoid all white, refined and over-processed foods, as well as any food with added sugar.
• Snack on fresh fruit, preferably apples, pears and/or berries, especially blueberries.
• Eat less glutenGluten is a protein found in the cereals wheat, rye and barley. Obvious sources of gluten in the diet are bread, pasta, breakfast cereals and…. Try brown rice, rye, oats, quinoa, lentils, beans, or chickpeas.
• Avoid fruit juices. Eat fresh fruit instead. Occasionally have unsweetened Montmorency cherry juice or blueberry juice (made from unsweetened concentrate).

Eat antioxidant and vitamin-rich foods

• Eat half your diet raw or lightly steamed.
• Eat two or more servings a day of fresh fruit, including one of berries.
• Eat four servings a day of dark green, leafy and root vegetables such as tenderstem broccoli, broccoli, kale, spinach, watercress, carrots, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, green beans, or peppers, as well as mushrooms. Choose organic where possible.
• Have a serving a day of beans, lentils, nuts, or seeds – all high in folate, as are peanuts.

Eat enough protein

• Have three servings of protein-rich foods a day, if you are a man, and two if you are a woman.
• Choose good vegetable protein sources, including beans, lentils, quinoa, tofu, or tempeh (soya) and ‘seed’ vegetables such as peas, broad beans and corn.
• If eating animal protein, choose lean meat or preferably fish, organic whenever possible.

Avoid harmful fats

• Minimise your intake of fried or processed food and burnt saturated fatSaturated fats should be avoided wherever possible as they increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood and increase the risk of developing heart disease…. on meat, and cheese.
• Minimise your consumption of deep-fried food. Poach, steam or steam-fry food instead.

Avoid sugar, reduce caffeine, and drink alcohol in moderation

• Avoid adding sugar to dishes and avoid foods and drinks with added sugar. Keep your sugar intake to a minimum, sweetening cereal or desserts with fruit.
• Avoid or considerably reduce your consumption of caffeinated drinks. Don’t have more than one caffeinated drink a day. Tea is preferable to coffee.
• Drink alcoholic drinks infrequently, and preferably red wine, to a maximum of one small glass (125g) a day.
• Have up to three slices of dark chocolate, minimum 70% cacao, or drink unsweetened cacao with milk or plant milk.

References

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