Dementia: Probiotics May Improve Cognitive Function
Cognitive decline is one of the many symptoms caused by dementia. It describes “confusion and memory loss that worsens or is frequent” related to cognitive status, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New research has identified a specific supplement that can slow this symptom and even improve cognitive function.
Cognitive function describes a person’s mental abilities, ranging from thinking to making decisions.
Forgetting can be part of normal aging, but there are also “serious” disorders linked to cognitive functions. These include dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to the National Institute on Aging.
MCI is the step between expected cognitive decline due to aging and dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Research has shown that people who suffer from this problem or from Alzheimer’s disease can benefit from probiotics.
READ MORE: How to live longer: the cholesterol-lowering drink that “kills” cancer cells
Probiotics are living bacteria and yeast that have a number of health benefits, including their ability to help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut.
The study, published in the journal Foods, looked at how taking probiotics can affect cognitive function.
They found that supplementing probiotics in adequate amounts for 12 weeks or more can improve cognitive function in people with MCI or Alzheimer’s disease.
While this study may have some limitations, as the research team reported, there appears to be a connection between our gut and our brain.
DO NOT MISS :
There is obvious communication between the two as they are able to send signals to each other, indicating feelings of hunger or fullness.
Our gut is also able to slow down or speed up depending on how we’re feeling, according to the Mental Health Foundation.
But recent studies also examine other impacts of this connection.
For example, another report published in Neuroscience & Behavioral Reviews found that taking probiotics can slow cognitive decline.
Although these new findings seem promising, there is a need for further research on this topic.
Dr Vernon Williams, director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, told Medical News Today: “It appears to be a safe approach in middle-aged and older adults.
“I don’t think anyone is saying that probiotics will cure cognitive dysfunction on their own.
“But they can provide an important piece of the puzzle and can be important, in terms of helping to improve these types of symptoms.”
don’t shut yourself off from the people around you – Barriere Star Journal
AgeTech Startup, AskAnnie.ai, Is Launching a Voice-First Digital Assistant for Home Health and Home Care
Obituary of Joan Marie (Silvernail) Armstrong
About Author
