Scientists Have Discovered Supplements That Can Enhance Memory in the Elderly: Prebiotics

Some say that “we are what we eat,” but in recent years, the mind-stomach connection that people are beginning to become aware of has proven to not only about what we ingest. It also has to do with what lives in the human digestive tract: the gastrointestinal microbiome.

Aging better. A new study published in Nature Communications has found that some prebiotic supplements have a positive effect on memory in older people. What’s more, the supplements in question, inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS), are “cheap and readily available,” the study authors say.

Inulin and FOS. The compounds used in the experiment are two dietary fiber supplements. Dietary fiber refers to those components of food that the human body doesn’t digest on its own. Usually, this fiber passes through the digestive system intact without major changes.

However, there are some types of fiber that are digested in the gastric system, not by the system per se, but by the bacteria that live in it. Prebiotic foods are those that fulfill the function of feeding the microorganisms of the gastrointestinal system.

36 pairs of twins. 36 pairs of twins participated in the study, totaling 72 participants, with most of them being females over 60 years old. Each twin was randomly and secretly assigned to either an experimental or control group.

The twins in the experimental group received a daily supplement of combined fiber and protein powder, while the control group received a supplement consisting of protein powder and a placebo. After 12 weeks, the experiment team conducted a memory test, similar to those used to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Improved memory. The results showed that the twins in the experimental group performed better on the memory test compared to the twins in the control group. The study also looked for changes in the participants’ muscle mass, but the results weren’t significant.

Close attention to the microbiome. The researchers found a link between the consumption of fiber supplements and improved brain functions, which could be attributed to the prebiotic function of these supplements. They observed a change in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, particularly an increase in the presence of the Bifidobacterium bacteria, which are beneficial for human health.

A mysterious connection. The idea that the human microbiome has significant effects isn’t new, nor is the connection between the human brain and the bacteria in the digestive system. For instance, a recent study found a link between certain fasting practices and changes in the brain, as well as alterations in the gut microbiota.

This relationship is still largely a mystery: Scientists still don’t understand the mechanisms underlying these correlations well. Understanding these mechanisms could help them identify potential causal relationships. What we do know with increasing certainty is the significance of the microorganisms that live in our body beyond pathogens.

This article was written by Pablo Martínez-Juarez and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | Katarzyna Grabowska | Alexander Grey

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