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Writer's pictureSanchita Bhattacharya

Planting Hope: How a Plant-Based Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease(AD).


According to Chicago Health and Aging Project; Washington Heights-Inwood and Columbia Aging Project, New York; and Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia study, Finland; consumption of saturated fatty acids, which mainly come from dairy products and meat, increases the risk of developing AD. These foods also increase the risk of diabetes.


Diabetes and Alzheimer's disease is closely related.


Our brain uses an enzyme called the insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) for 2 purposes. It processes insulin after it is used as well as clear a potential toxin called amyloid beta that is associated with AD. The enzyme can do only one action at a time. If it is busy breaking down insulin because your blood sugar spikes again and again and the excess sugar has to be pushed into the cells; then the insulin degrading enzyme is not free to break down amyloid beta. So the sticky amyloid beta accumulates and ultimately plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The amyloid beta after a certain point is toxic to nerve cells,destroys synapses and promotes brain inflammation.


This is one of the reasons why diabetics are more prone to develop AD.


A whole foods plant based diet have been shown to reverse diabetes and therefore can be beneficial in preventing or stopping the progress of Alzheimer's Disease.


One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet which emphasizes plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.


Another study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that a plant-based diet, particularly one that is high in fruits and vegetables, may help to reduce inflammation in the brain, which is thought to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.


Overall, while more research is needed in this area, following a plant-based diet may be a beneficial strategy for reducing the risk of AD and promoting overall brain health.


Let me know your inputs on this subject.



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