High Fat Diets Could Benefit Cognitive Function
Nutrition
Can a diet high in fats lead to improved cognitive function and help those people with Alzheimer’s disease?
Well, a recent study would suggest that. It seems a high fat ketogenic style diet is able to increase the energy metabolism of brain function.
This, in test, has resulted in considerable cognitive improvements for people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
What is interesting is that further research studies are continually linking type 2 diabetes with sugar dysregulation and neurological diseases.
With a continually ageing population neurological diseases are becoming more widespread.
Some people seem to have a brain that ages better than others who may develop diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
This is, according to research emanating from the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center, is down to diet.
Research
Their research suggests that a diet for aging people may be able to resist disease and help neurons cope better with stress.
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The study comprised of 10 patients who received a high fat diet, similar to a ketogenic diet which consisted of 70% fat, 20% protein and 10% carbohydrates over a course of 3 months.
The diet contains lots of foods such as olive oils, butter, cream, eggs, nuts and lots of varying meats and fish, yet it does not include much in the way of fruits, beans, grains nor does it include starchy vegetables.
It is thought that these fats provide an alternative energy source for the mitochondria in neurons to prevent them becoming impaired.
Then, the participants who were suffering from Alzheimer’s sat a cognitive test known as the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–cognitive domain (ADAS-cog) to see how they performed.
This test assesses the participants’ cognitive function which includes memory, language, the ability to put a theory in to place and also measures orientation.
The cognitive test is widely used across clinical assessment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Results
ResultsInterestingly, those participants who were fed the high fat ketogenic style diet reversed the general correlation of annual decline that is normally associated with Alzheimer’s patients.
In fact, the participants even improved their scores which would almost cancel any decline.
These results were around double of the improvement commonly seen with patients being prescribed Alzheimer’s medication.
Additionally, those who stayed on the high fat ketogenic diet saw cognitive improvements and did not suffer any further decline.
> Regain Focus
> Improve Clarity
> Heightened Awareness
> Increased Productivity
> Restore Mental Edge
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