Is your diet accelerating your dementia risk?

The research I want to share with you today addresses one of the most urgent health issues of our time: The surge of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in our older population.  

It also touches on many of the same core principles as my own nutrition recommendations—proper protein intake and amino acid supplementation—and how they relate to brain health. 

Of course, researchers used a mouse model of AD to analyze these connections. But their findings are quite promising… 

Protein preserves the brain 

This study recently appeared in the journal Science Advances. In it, Japanese researchers found that low protein diets ACCELERATED brain deterioration in mouse models of Alzheimer’s. (These mice also showed poor brain cell connectivity.)  

However, a supplement featuring seven specific amino acids (called Amino LP7) was able to slow the brain degeneration—and ultimately, dementia development, too.  

In fact, the amino acid combination boosted brain cell connectivity, while reducing neuron death and brain inflammation. More specifically, it blocked a substance called kynurenine from entering the brain—which, in turn, stopped immune cells from attacking neurons. Better brain function was also observed. 

Meanwhile, untreated mice suffered progressive brain degeneration. 

Pretty cool findings, if you ask me. Especially when you consider how I often recommend high-fat/high-protein diets that focus on amino acids, specifically.  

“A” is for aminos 

Of course, there were some missing details in this study. For example, I couldn’t find out exactly what combination of aminos were used. And then, there’s the obvious fact that this was an animal study.  

If I had just a little more information, you better believe I would start recommending this particular supplement yesterday. But until we know more, I can only urge you to make sure you get enough protein into your diet—preferably from animal sources—and to focus on foods that contain amino acids. 

In my experience, this is a challenge for many older people. But my A-List Diet provides detailed, personalized guidance on how to get both into your diet. In the meantime, here are the basics… 

When it comes to protein, I recommend incorporating it with every meal… in the form of eggs, cheese, nuts, meat, and even a whey protein shake. Then, to ensure you’re getting enough, I advise consuming 1 gram of protein per pound you weigh. And if you’re trying to gain weight or build muscle, I often recommend twice that amount. (This amount is important for many aspects of your health, not “just” brain health.)   

As for amino acids, well, there are 22 found in the foods we eat—mostly in animal sources. And three out of the 22 are known as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and can be found in a variety of protein sources, as I discuss in the current issue of my monthly Logical Health Alternatives newsletter. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to become one! 

Finally, for additional ways to keep your brain sharp as you age, check out my Alzheimer’s Prevention and Treatment Plan. Click here to learn more about this online learning tool! 

Source: 

“A diet of essential amino acids could keep dementia at bay: Consuming Amino LP7, a specific combination of essential amino acids, could inhibit the development of dementia, shows a study from Japan.” Science Daily, 10/22/2021. (sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211022171458.htm)