High-fat, low-carb diet could help to stop Alzheimer’s

A diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates could help combat the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists used mice engineered to suffer from Alzheimer’s to test the effects of a high-fat, low-carb diet - called a “ketogenic diet”.

They found that the brain protein amyloid-beta - an indicator of the disease - was reduced in the mice on the ketogenic diet.

The report, published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, appears to show the opposite to previous studies suggesting that fat has a negative effect on Alzheimer’s.

Dementia affects one in 20 people over 65 and one in five over the age of 80.

The team, led by Samuel Henderson from research company Accera Inc in the US along with colleagues in Belgium, said: “This work supports the premise that key aspects of Alzheimer’s disease can be altered by changes in metabolism.

“It also highlights the interaction of dietary components and how such components influence the metabolic state.”

The researchers said that they believed that insulin and the related hormone insulin-related growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were key players in the link between diet and Alzheimer’s.

Journal editor Richard Feinman explained: “Most studies of the deleterious effects of fat have been done in the presence of high carbohydrate.”

Dr Feinman said: “Although it is too early to tell how the results will fit into the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, the implication for diet in general is also important.”