The Answer to Alzheimer’s… Is In Your Gut?!
Alzheimer’s remains a mystery to the medical community.
They know characteristics of the disease process—like the telltale beta-amyloid plaques that build up in the brain—but the underlying cause has remained elusive.
However, many researchers believe they are finally zeroing on the secret to stopping Alzheimer’s disease.
And strangely, the answer isn’t in your brain… it’s in your gut.
At a recent Alzheimer’s conference, researchers presented the results of three intriguing studies.
One highlighted the fact that the gut microbiome (the bacteria in your gut) is vastly different between those with Alzheimer’s and those without.
Another study showed that after healthy rats received fecal transplants from Alzheimer’s patients, they began to perform poorly on memory tests. (A fecal transplant transfers the gut bacteria from one source to another.)
The third study found that when brain stem cells were treated with blood from people with Alzheimer’s disease, they were not able to grow new nerve cells.
Together, studies like these make a compelling argument about the tremendous impact your microbiome has on both the structure and function of your brain.
Other studies have determined that proteins produced by certain intestinal bacteria can impact the interaction between your immune system and nervous system in such a way that could contribute to beta-amyloid plaques.
But this connection goes beyond your risk for Alzheimer’s. The reality is that the health of your gut is critical for your overall cognitive function.
The messages that travel back and forth between your brain and digestive system support your automatic nervous system, your endocrine system, and your immune system.
For example, 90 percent of the neurotransmitter serotonin—which plays a major role in brain function—is actually made in your digestive tract!
These studies highlight just how critical gut health is for brain health.
After all, you can’t think of aspects of your health in a vacuum.
Everything in your body is connected.
P.S. There’s a way to protect your brain, and it involves protecting your synapses even in the presence of beta amyloid plaque. Click here to read about it.
