Can we reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by changing our diet?

Asst. Prof. Dr. Murat Doğan;

Dear readers, despite all the hard work, unfortunately, no success has been achieved in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, preventive approaches to Alzheimer's disease are very important. So how can we reduce our risk of Alzheimer's disease? Can this be possible by changing eating habits?

Nutrition is an important factor in maintaining and improving health. A person's aging process, life span, and quality are affected by nutrition and eating habits. Unhealthy eating habits are a serious risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In other words, we can say that healthy eating habits are one of the protective factors against Alzheimer's.

Studies have shown that there is a relationship between BMI-Body mass index and Alzheimer's. It has been observed that individuals with very low or high BMI have a much higher risk of Alzheimer's than individuals with normal BMI.

A deficiency of B-group vitamins is common in elderly individuals. This shows that it is associated with a decrease in cognitive functions (mental processes). High homocysteine, especially seen in folate, vitamin B6 and B12 deficiency, is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

It is reported that vitamins E and C took with food reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It is more appropriate to take vitamins through diet rather than taking them in the form of supplements.

In the research; Monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is widely used in foods due to its flavoring feature, has been defined as a low-level neurotoxin. MSG is a flavoring and flavor enhancer, and when it is added to meals, it makes the taste of that food perceived more delicious in our brains. MSG can trigger Alzheimer's disease as a result of damage to the central nervous system.

In recent years, studies on brain functions have emphasized the importance of vitamin D. It is reported that vitamin D plays an active role in brain functions and therefore is associated with Alzheimer's disease. It has been suggested that vitamin D has a protective effect on nerve neurons and its deficiency has a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

“Sir, you talk about risk factors. You recommend some vitamins to prevent this disease. Yes, but isn't there a diet you recommend?" I can hear you say. Mediterranean diet may be effective in preventing Alzheimer's disease. This diet can be emphasized as consumption of monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat (olive oil, etc.), high consumption of legumes, consumption of whole grain products, high consumption of fruit and vegetables, consumption of milk and dairy products, but not much, and consumption of meat and meat products. . Fish consumption is also important in the Mediterranean diet. The difference between fish meat and other animal meats is that its oil is very rich in Omega-3 content. It has been reported that the risk of Alzheimer's disease is reduced by 30-40% in individuals who follow the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in unsaturated fats containing omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.

Studies have shown that the risk of Alzheimer's is higher in individuals who consume a lot of foods (especially solid fats) with a high content of trans fat, compared to individuals with a low consumption level. It was also emphasized that the relationship between nutritional habits and Alzheimer's is similar to the relationship between nutrition and heart disease.

As a result, malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in individuals. Although there is no defined nutritional recommendation for Alzheimer's disease, nutritional recommendations can be used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

We congratulate asst. Prof. Dr. Murat Doğan and wish him success in his work.