October 29, 2017
Research is adding more support to the idea that a high-glycemic diet can lead to a greater risk for cognitive problems.
The study, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, involved researchers from the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center.
The team used screening data from the center's Prevention Through Exercise (APEX) program to track 128 adults. Those who consumed more sugar and carbohydrates had an elevated cerebral amyloid burden, an Alzheimer's disease risk factor.
When the researchers focused solely on sugar intake, they found it associated with poor cognitive performance.
Sugar and carbs bind to everything in the body. When they stick to proteins, a process known as glycation, tissues and organs are affected. When these proteins build up in the brain, plaques and tangles can form, increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The medical community has recently focused on this connection, referring to cognitive issues linked to blood sugar as type-3 diabetes.
Researchers concluded that diet is something an individual can change to reduce amyloid accumulation in the brain – and help prevent loss of cognitive functions.
People who have switched to low-carb diets, such as the ketogenic diet, often report thinking more clearly.
Be sure to speak with your physician about choosing a healthy diet plan that is right for you.
