Alzheimer&Dementia: Be alert!

Diet composition may be an important factor in mediating the risk of neurodegenerative diseases
.

Long-term consumption of Western diet - rich in saturated animal fat, sodium and simple sugars - will increase obesity, diabetes , auto immune and cardiac vascular disease risk, all of the above factors will increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is

Long-term consumption of Western diet - rich in saturated animal fat, sodium and simple sugars - will increase obesity, diabetes , auto immune and cardiac vascular disease risk, all of the above factors will increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is

The Mediterranean diet is related to healthy aging outcomes.

Most of the above data comes from observational studies, where dietary consumption is self-reported
.

Similarly, those who report adherence to Mediterranean and Western diets differ in other aspects that may affect cognitive health (e.

Psychosocial stress is associated with an increased risk of AD and other dementias
.

Socio-economic differences are one of the most obvious drivers of chronic psychosocial stress, and the gradient of health differences caused by stress may become larger with age

Socio-economic differences are one of the most obvious drivers of chronic psychosocial stress, and the gradient of health differences caused by stress may become larger with age

Recently, pathologists at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, used structural magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine diet in a fully validated non-human primate AD-like neuropathology model (Mediterranean and Western) and the longitudinal influence of social subordination pressure on brain anatomy, the results were published in the journal Alzheimer & Dementia
.

Changes in the overall brain volume of the Mediterranean diet (left) and Western diet (right) during the experiment

Changes in the overall brain volume of the Mediterranean diet (left) and Western diet (right) during the experiment

The researchers analyzed the overall volume, cortical thickness and volume, and 20 individual regions of interest (ROIs)
.

The global brain volume of the western group has changed, while the brain volume of the Mediterranean region has remained stable over time

In the western group, total brain volume (TBV) and gray matter volume (GM) increased significantly, while cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and white matter volume (WM) decreased significantly

Anatomical view of changes in cortical thickness in the "feature" area of ​​AD
.

In animals on a Western diet instead of a Mediterranean diet, the thickness of the cortex in the area of ​​interest for AD-like neuropathology increases

Anatomical view of changes in cortical thickness in the "feature" area of ​​AD

In terms of social pressure, it is found that the under-stressed subordinates have a smaller overall brain volume and a larger area of ​​interest related to AD.

Social status differences in global brain volume

Social status differences in global brain volume

The observation of the increase in the size of AD-related brain regions is consistent with similar reports of increased volume in middle age, predicting an increased risk of AD in later life
.
Although the biological mechanisms behind these findings need further research, these observations show that Western diet and psychosocial stress can trigger pathological changes and increase the risk of AD-related neuropathology, and the Mediterranean diet may protect the brain
.

Western diet and psychosocial stress can cause pathological changes and increase the risk of AD-related neuropathology, while the Mediterranean diet may protect the brain
.
Western diet and psychosocial stress can cause pathological changes and increase the risk of AD-related neuropathology, while the Mediterranean diet may protect the brain
.

 

references:

Diet, psychosocial stress, and Alzheimer's disease–related neuroanatomy in female nonhuman primates.
Alzheimer's Dement.
2021;17:733–744

Diet, psychosocial stress, and Alzheimer's disease--related neuroanatomy in female nonhuman primates.
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