A new research study found that daily fiber supplements can enhance brain function in individuals over 60 in just 12 weeks, providing a cost-efficient method to possibly counter early signs of Alzheimers disease.Daily fiber supplements boost brain function in senior citizens without impacting muscle strength, assuring an easy dietary addition to fight early Alzheimers signs.A day-to-day fiber supplement enhanced brain function in over 60s in just 12 weeks.The study, released just recently in Nature Communications by researchers from the School of Life Course & & Population Sciences at Kings College London revealed that this low-cost and simple addition to diet can improve performance in memory tests connected with early signs of Alzheimers disease.However, the prebiotic supplements inulin and FOS were discovered to have no result on muscle strength over this duration.” We are delighted to see these changes in simply 12 weeks. This holds huge pledge for enhancing brain health and memory in our ageing population. Opening the secrets of the gut-brain axis might offer new methods for living more healthily for longer.”– First author Dr. Mary Ni Lochlainn, from the Department of Twin ResearchAs populations age internationally, the frequency of age-related conditions such as cognitive decline and muscle loss is on the rise. Scientists at TwinsUK, the UKs biggest adult twin windows registry based at Kings College London, sought to comprehend how targeting the microbiota, the varied community of bacteria living in our intestines, using 2 low-cost, commercially readily available plant fiber supplements inulin and FOS, could affect both muscle health and brain function.Researchers designated 36 twin sets– 72 people– over 60 years of ages to receive either a placebo or the supplement every day for 12 weeks. Neither the analysis group, nor the participants knew which they got up until the analysis was complete (double-blind). Along with this, all study participants did resistance workouts and consumed a protein supplement which was intended at enhancing muscle function.Researchers monitored participants from another location via video, online questionnaires, and cognitive tests. They discovered the fiber supplement caused substantial modifications in the participants gut microbiome structure, particularly a boost in the varieties of useful germs such as Bifidobacterium.While there was no significant difference in muscle strength in between the groups, the group receiving the fiber supplement carried out much better in tests assessing brain function, including the Paired Associates Learning test which is an early marker for Alzheimers disease, together with tests of response time and processing speed. These procedures are important for day-to-day living– for instance, responding to traffic or stopping a simple trip-up developing into a fall.” These plant fibers, which are offered and cheap over-the counter, could benefit a large group of individuals in these cash-strapped times. They are appropriate and safe too. Our next job is to see whether these impacts are sustained over longer periods and in larger groups of individuals.”– Senior author Professor Claire Steves, Professor of Ageing and HealthAnother novel aspect of the study was its remote style which demonstrated the feasibility of conducting trials in older adults without the need for comprehensive travel or healthcare facility gos to, which could be delivered in numerous settings internationally. Challenges such as digital literacy and access to the necessary innovation were acknowledged and will be dealt with in future larger-scale projects with the goal of improving the quality of life for aging populations worldwide.Reference: “Effect of gut microbiome modulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomised regulated trial” by Mary Ni Lochlainn, Ruth C. E. Bowyer, Janne Marie Moll, María Paz García, Samuel Wadge, Andrei-Florin Baleanu, Ayrun Nessa, Alyce Sheedy, Gulsah Akdag, Deborah Hart, Giulia Raffaele, Paul T. Seed, Caroline Murphy, Stephen D. R. Harridge, Ailsa A. Welch, Carolyn Greig, Kevin Whelan and Claire J. Steves, 29 February 2024, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-024-46116-yThis research study was supported by Kings Centre for Ageing Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE) and by grants from the National Institute of Health Research and Wellcome Trust