Eating this could slash your risk of Alzheimer’s significantly

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Eating a daily high-fibre meal such as oatmeal could slash your risk of developing Alzheimer's by more than a quarter, new research revealed.

Oats are high in soluble fibre which protects against the degenerative disease, scientists said.

Those with the most had a 26 percent lower dementia risk compared to peers who ate the least.

Fibre is believed to boost 'good bacteria' - dampening inflammation in the brain, experts found.

A study of 3,739 adults tracked for 20 years found those with fibre-rich diets were less likely to develop dementia.

The link was most pronounced for those with higher intake of the soluble type. It is found in oats - as well as peas, beans, lentils and peanuts.

Professor Kazumasa Yamagishi, a lead author of the study from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, said: "The mechanisms are currently unknown but might involve the interactions that take place between the gut and the brain.

"One possibility is that soluble fibre regulates the composition of gut bacteria.

"This composition may affect neuroinflammation, which plays a role in the onset of dementia."

The advantage of eating plenty of fibrous foods such as fruit and veg are well documented, the Japanese team said.

It boosts the digestive system and also has cardiovascular benefits - including reducing cholesterol.

Prof Yamagishi added: "It is also possible dietary fibre may reduce other risk factors for dementia such as body weight, blood pressure, lipids and glucose levels."

The latest findings add to emerging evidence fibre is also good for the brain - increasing oxygen supply.

Participants were split into four groups according to the amount in their diets. Those with the most had a 26 percent lower dementia risk.

Further analysis found the link was more pronounced for soluble rather than insoluble fibres.

The latter are found in whole grains and veg, for instance, and are known to be important for bowel health.

Prof Yamagishi said: "Dementia is a devastating disease that usually requires long-term care.

"We were interested in some recent research which suggested dietary fibre may play a preventative role.

"We investigated this using data that were collected from thousands of adults in Japan for a large study that started in the 1980s."

The healthy volunteers, aged 40 to 64, completed surveys that assessed their dietary intake between 1985 and 1999.

They were then followed up from 1999 until 2020. It was noted whether they developed dementia that required care.

Added Prof Yamagishi: "The work is still at an early stage. It is important to confirm the association in other populations."

On average, American adults eat 10 to 15 grams of total fiber per day, while the USDA's recommended daily amount for adults up to age 50 is 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

By encouraging healthier diets, it might be possible to reduce the incidence of dementia.

The number of cases worldwide will triple to more than 150 million by 2050.

With no cure in sight, there is an increasing focus on lifestyle changes that reduce risk.

The study was published in Nutritional Neuroscience.