(ReliableNews.org) – There’s an old saying that states: you are what you eat. And it seems to be true. National Geographic wrote an article years ago about the gut’s microbiome and how scientists can tell one culture from another just by looking at peoples’ digestive systems. According to the source, an unbalanced microbiome can lead to certain medical conditions like cancer, obesity, allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease. Doctors often recommend diet changes to those suffering from diabetes, heart disease, and other ailments, further promoting the importance of eating the right foods.
On February 13, EurekAlert reported on a study from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus believe the development of Alzheimer’s disease might be “driven by diet.” The study explained the important role of fructose in foraging for early humans. How the sugar was metabolized was essential to survival, as the substance would reduce blood flow to the part of the brain that regulates self-control, telling the body whether or not it needs to eat.
Now, with the free-flowing and nearly constant presence of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in modern processed foods, the brain is stuck at the “on” position. The lead author of the study, Dr. Richard Johnson, said doctors can find “high fructose levels” in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.
#CarboCurse 'Alzheimer's disease driven by diet': Scientists suggest sugar cravings fuel dementia
“Fructose restricts blood flow to the brain’s cerebral cortex, which is involved in self-control, as well as the hippocampus & thalamus.” #SugarCurse https://t.co/xUWLhHo5Qk
— vanyiula (@shitalavan) February 16, 2023
Researchers admit that more studies need to be done to determine the role fructose may or may not play in Alzheimer’s disease. They suggest trials involving diet and pharmacology to bring down fructose exposure or block it altogether to see if that action would provide benefits to patients suffering from the affliction. The scientists hope to follow this path to see if it can lead to possible management and treatment of the debilitating disease.
According to a recent report from the Alzheimer’s Association, about 6.5 million Americans were living with the disease in 2022.
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