Imagine the power of your gut health to protect you from one of the world's scariest diseases.
Recent research has revealed a stunning link between Alzheimer's Disease and gut health. The research shows that a fecal transplant can transfer the disease from adult humans to healthy young rats. This discovery is both inspiring and thought-provoking, raising important questions about the role of gut health in developing Alzheimer's Disease.
Keywords to understand
Microbiome - The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms
living in and on the human body.
Microbiota - The microbiota is the collection of microorganisms
that live in a specific environment.
Alzheimer’s Disease - Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder that affects the
brain and causes memory loss, cognitive decline,
and behavioural changes.
Let us first look at some Canadian Statistics (1).
More than 600,000 people in Canada are living with dementia.
Every day, more than 350 people in Canada develop dementia.
By 2030, Canada could have a 51% increase in the number of new dementia cases a year.
6.3 million people in Canada will develop, live with and/or ultimately die with dementia between 2020 and 2050.
It's a fact that the risk of dementia is rising, and relying on the current conventional approach won't help you prevent or cure this condition. We now know that the disease can begin to manifest decades before the first significant symptoms show. However, don't lose hope yet. Keep reading to learn how to take charge of your health and avoid becoming a statistic.
WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S
Alzheimer's disease is a condition that affects the brain and causes memory loss, changes in behaviour, and a decline in cognitive ability. This can lead to difficulty with daily tasks and routines. It is a gradual disease that worsens over time and is most commonly experienced by older adults. The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not fully understood, but experts believe that a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors influences it. While there is no cure, treatments are available to help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for those affected (2).
At Truehope, we have discovered that gut health plays a significant role in bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. The importance of maintaining a healthy gut is becoming increasingly clear with each passing day. Your gut health may be directly linked to your likelihood of developing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and even dementia.
GUT HEALTH & ALZHEIMERS STUDY
The latest research has revealed a remarkable discovery - Alzheimer's disease can be transmitted from humans to healthy rats. Scientists have long understood that the human gut microbiome has an impact on the brain in conditions such as anxiety and depression. However, this new study has linked gut health to Alzheimer's disease. The researchers were able to transfer the microbiota of Alzheimer's patients to healthy rats, and the rats developed the same neurodegenerative disease. Moreover, the scientists identified bacterial species that are directly linked to the cognitive decline observed in Alzheimer's patients. This new discovery provides hope for preventative care options for those who may be vulnerable to dementia (3).
While Alzheimer's disease is typically diagnosed quite late, and by that time, it might be too late to reverse most of the damage, specific changes in the gut microbiome could be a possible biomarker for Alzheimer's progression.
THE STUDY SPECIFICS
Gut microbiota was taken from Alzheimer's patients and transplanted into 16 young adult rats with their microbiomes depleted by antibiotics for a week. Another group of 16 rats received gut microbiota from people in the healthy control group.
The rats were then subjected to behavioural tests to evaluate memory performance and other traits associated with Alzheimer's disease at least ten days after the transplants. It was found that rats that received microbiome transplants from Alzheimer's patients showed impaired memory behaviours, particularly those that rely on a process called adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
Hippocampal neurogenesis creates new neurons in the hippocampus, a region of our brains that's important for memory and mood and one of the first areas impacted by Alzheimer's disease.
THERE IS HOPE
As scientists continue to make groundbreaking discoveries, hope is on the horizon for those who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer's. By recognizing the early stages of the disease, we can take action to prevent or slow its progression. With this knowledge, we can strive to live our lives to the fullest while taking steps to ensure our long-term health and well-being.
To help you on this journey, here are some key steps you can take to improve your gut health:
Probiotics are live bacteria cultures consumed to seed the gut with beneficial bacteria. Examples include kefir, sauerkraut, yogurt, miso, and kimchi.
Prebiotics are types of food or agents that cannot be digested or absorbed by the small intestine. They serve as food for the bacteria in our gut, which is essential for their growth and survival. The prebiotic effect of these foods is a normal part of digestion. Some of the best prebiotic foods include Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, onion, endive, asparagus, root vegetables, beans, rice, nuts, and mushrooms.
When it comes to supporting your digestive health, there are several supplements available that can help. I would recommend using OLE as it can assist in eliminating unwanted bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It's important to create the right foundation before building a stronger microbiome.
FINAL WORDS The connection between stress and gut and brain health is significant. Your body has a nerve called the vagus nerve that acts as a pathway between your brain and gut and is in constant communication. Certain foods can make you feel anxious and depressed, just as anxious and depressive thoughts can lead to digestive problems. It is best to avoid consuming GMO foods that are treated with herbicides. Such foods can wreak havoc on the microbiome, acting as unwanted antibiotics. Although antibiotics are sometimes necessary, they are often overprescribed and used for viral infections rather than bacterial.
Therefore, ensuring that you truly need them before taking them is important, as they can destroy your gut bacteria. Recovering from a single course of antibiotics may take up to two years. If you must take antibiotics, be sure to follow a restoration protocol to help restore the balance of your gut bacteria.
Feed those bugs well.
Simon Brazier. Dip HN, NNCP
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