Researchers continue to explore the mechanisms and risk factors that lead to Alzheimer’s disease, which has already become a “disease of the age”, as it is so prevalent today. Contrary to what is commonly believed, dementia is not a direct result of aging.
Studies have found that Alzheimer’s patients, the most common type of dementia, have high levels of a certain type of sugar in their brains, according to what was reported in the “Express” newspaper. Express British.
A new study suggests that naturally occurring sugar may play a major role in Alzheimer’s risk.
And found the results, which were published in the journal The American Journal of Clinical Nutritionthat fructose could hold clues to the development and potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Fructose describes a type of sugar found naturally in fruits, fruit juices, some vegetables, and honey.
The natural sweetener is also an essential ingredient in table sugar and high fructose corn syrup, which is used in many processed foods and beverages.
Alzheimer’s (Shutterstock)
According to the study’s lead author, Richard Johnson, there is evidence that “Alzheimer’s disease is driven by diet.”
Johnson and his team suggested that Alzheimer’s disease is a harmful adaptation of an evolutionary survival pathway used in animals and ancestors.
The researchers explained this theory: “One of the basic principles of life is ensuring enough food, water and oxygen to survive. Much attention has been focused on acute survival responses to hypoxia and starvation. However, nature has developed a clever way to protect animals before a crisis hits.” actually”.
The team continued: “When faced with the possibility of starvation, early humans or ancestors developed a survival response that prompted them to search for food. Foraging requires concentration, quick assessment, impulsiveness, exploratory behavior and risk-taking. This practice is reinforced by preventing everything that gets in the way, such as Recent memories, and that’s where fructose comes in.”
Sugar helps moisturize these centers, allowing more focus on gathering food. Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz found that the entire foraging response was triggered by the metabolism of fructose, either by ingestion or production in the body.
Furthermore, the team noted that fructose reduces blood flow to the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for self-control, as well as the hippocampus and thalamus.
Johnson revealed: ‘We believe that the fructose-dependent decrease in brain metabolism in these regions was initially reversible and should have been beneficial. But the chronic and persistent decrease in brain metabolism resulting from repeated fructose metabolism leads to progressive brain atrophy and cell loss. Neuropathy with all the features of Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers believe that while this survival response helped ancient humans, it now leads to overeating high-fat, sugary, and salty foods, which leads to an overproduction of fructose.
Worryingly, the fructose produced in the brain can lead to inflammation and eventually Alzheimer’s disease, according to the researchers.
“You can find high levels of fructose in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients as well,” Johnson said.
The researchers added that more nutritional and pharmaceutical trials are now needed to examine whether reducing fructose can benefit, prevent or treat the brain-stealing condition.
