The role of diet and antioxidants in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease

Authors

  • Robert Dudkowiak Division of Dietetics, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
  • Anna Gryglas Department of Neurology, Gromkowski Hospital, Wroclaw Department of Social Pediatrics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
  • Elżbieta Poniewierka Division of Dietetics, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20883/jms.2016.144

Keywords:

Alzheimer's disease, reactive oxygen species, nutrition

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among elderly. It is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder of the brain which leads to the deterioration of cognitive, behavioral and impaired daily functioning and causes the gradual loss of independence. A significant portion of risk for dementia in old age is associated with lifestyle. Three important protective factors are diet, which should be rich in antioxidants, exercise and good cardiovascular health. It is believed that Mediterranean diet has a protective effect from dementia. This diet, rich in fruit and vegetables, legumes, olive oil, whole wheat bread, fish and seafood, with reduced consumption of red meat is also protective from cardiovascular diseases and promotes a healthy long life. There were some studies on the etiology of AD which noted an important role of vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid. All of them are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, which is regarded as an independent risk factor for the development of AD, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. We also know that supplementation of vitamins C and E in the diet can be protective from AD. On the other hand we know that obesity and undernutrition can increase the risk of development of AD. As we can observe the aging of population we should remember that nutrition constitutes an interesting approach for the prevention of age-related brain disorders.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Dickson DW. Neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Clin Geriatric Med. 2001;17:209–228.

Hebert LE, Weuve J, Scherr PA, Evans DA. Alzheimer disease in the United States (2010–2050) estimated using the 2010 census. Neurology. 2013. 80:1778–1783.

Neugroschl J, Sano M. An update on treatment and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. Curr. Neurol. Neurosci. Rep. 2009;9:368–376.

Hurd MD, Martorell P, Delavande A, Mullen KJ, Langa KM. Monetary costs of dementia in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2013;368:1326–1334.

World Health Organization. Dementia: a public health priority. WHO Geneva. 2013.

Barnes DE, Yaffe K. The projected effect of risk factor reduction on Alzheimer’s disease prevalence. Lancet Neurol. 2013;10:819–828.

Sezgin Z, Dincer Y. Alzheimer's disease and epigenetic diet. Neurochem Int. 2014;78:105–116.

Shah R. The role of nutrition and diet in Alzheimer disease: a systematic review. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14:398–402.

Ogawa S. Nutritional management of older adults with cognitive decline and dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2014;14 Suppl 2:17–22.

Blennow K, de Leon MJ, Zetterberg H. Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 2006;368:387–403.

Guerreiro R, Bras J, Toombs J, Heslegrave A, Hardy J, Zetterberg H. Genetic variants and related biomarkers in sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Curr Genet Med Rep. 2015;3:19–25.

Zou Z, Liu C, Che C, Huang H. Clinical genetics of Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:291862.

Ittner LM, Götz J. Amyloid-ß and tau – a toxic pas de deux in Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011;12:65–72.

Huang HC, Jiang ZF. Accumulated amyloid-beta peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau protein: relationship and links in Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2009;16:15–27.

Brunden KR, Ballatore C, Crowe A, Smith AB 3rd, Lee VM, Trojanowski JQ. Tau-directed drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies: a focus on tau assembly inhibitors. Exp Neurol. 2010;223:304–10.

Dickson DW. Neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: a perspective from longitudinal clinicopathological studies. Neurobiol Aging. 1997;18: S21–6.

Anantharaman M, Tangpong J, Keller JN, Murphy MP, Markesbery WR, Kiningham KK, et al. Beta-amyloid mediated nitration of manganese superoxide dismutase: implication for oxidative stress in a APPNLH/NLH X PS-1P264L/P264L double knock-in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Am J Pathol. 2006;168:1608–18.

Wang DB1, Dayton RD, Zweig RM, Klein RL. Transcriptome analysis of a tau overexpression model in rats implicates an early pro-inflammatory response. Exp Neurol. 2010;224:197–206.

Fassbender K, Masters C, Beyreuther K. Alzheimer's disease: an inflammatory disease? Neurobiol Aging. 2000;21:433–6, discussion 451–3.

Hill JM, Dua P, Clement C, Lukiw WJ. An evaluation of progressive amyloidogenic and pro-inflammatory change in the primary visual cortex and retina in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Front Neurosci. 2014;12:8:347.

Cahill-Smith S, Li JM. Oxidative stress, redox signalling and endothelial dysfunction in ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases: a role of NADPH oxidase 2. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014;78:441–53.

Sochocka M, Koutsouraki ES, Gasiorowski K, Leszek J. Vascular oxidative stress and mitochondrial failure in the pathobiology of Alzheimer's disease: a new approach to therapy. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2013;12:870–81.

Schrag M, Mueller C, Zabel M, Crofton A, Kirsch WM, Ghribi O, et al. Oxidative stress in blood in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis. Neurobiol Dis. 2013;59:100–10.

Leszek J, Sochocka M, Gasiorowski K. Vascular factors and epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. J Neurol Sci. 2012;323:25–32.

Krishnan S, Rani P. Evaluation of selenium, redox status and their association with plasma amyloid/tau in Alzheimer's disease. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2014;158:158–65.

Carrano A, Hoozemans JJM, van der Vies SM, Rozemuller AJM, van Horssen J, de Vries HE. Amyloid Beta induces oxidative stress-mediated blood-brain barrier changes in capillary amyloid angiopathy. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;15:1167–78.

Swomley AM, Förster S, Keeney JT, Triplett J, Zhang Z, Sultana R, et al. Abeta, oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease: evidence based on proteomics studies. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014;1842:1248–57.

Sheng B, Wang X, Su B, Lee HG, Casadesus G, Perry G, Zhu X. Impaired mitochondrial biogenesis contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem. 2012;120:419–29.

Finefrock AE, Bush AI, Doraiswamy PM. Current status of metals as therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003;51:1143–8.

Puertas MC, Martínez-Martos JM, Cobo MP, Carrera MP, Mayas MD, Ramírez-Expósito MJ. Plasma oxidative stress parameters in men and women with early stage Alzheimer type dementia. Exp Gerontol. 2012;47:625–30.

Pillai R, Uyehara-Lock JH, Bellinger FP. Selenium and selenoprotein function in brain disorders. IUBMB Life. 2014;66:229–39.

Loef M, Schrauzer GN, Walach H. Selenium and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review. J Alzheimers Dis. 2011;26:81–104.

Lopes da Silva S, Vellas B, Elemans S, Luchsinger J, Kamphuis P, Yaffe K, et al. Plasma nutrient status of patients with Alzheimer's disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimers Dement. 2014;10:485–502.

Di Domenico F, Barone E, Perluigi M, Butterfield DA. Strategy to reduce free radical species in Alzheimer's disease: an update of selected antioxidants. Expert Rev Neurother. 2015;15:19–40.

Ramesh BN, Rao TS, Prakasam A, Sambamurti K, Rao KS. Neuronutrition and Alzheimer’s disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;19:1123–1139.

Morris MC. The role of nutrition in Alzheimer’s disease: Epidemiological evidence. Eur J Neurol. 2009;16:1–7.

Esmailnasab N, Moradi G, Delaveri A. Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome. Iran J Public Health. 2012;41:77–85.

Solfrizzi V, Panza F, Frisardi V, Seripa D, Logroscino G, Imbimbo BP, Ilotto A. Diet and Alzheimer’s disease risk factors or prevention: the current evidence. Expert Rev Neurother. 2011;11:677–708.

Shatenstein B, Kergoat MJ, Reid I, Chicoine ME. Dietary intervention in older adults with early-stage Alzheimer dementia: early lessons learned. J Nutr Health Aging. 2008;12:461–469.

Salva A, Andrieu S, Fernandez, Moulin J, Decarli B, Rojano-i-Luque X, et al. Health and nutritional promotion program for patients with dementia (NutriAlz Study): design and baseline data. J Nutr Health Aging. 2009;13:529–537.

Wyka J. Nutritional factors in prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2012;63:135–40.

Scarmeas N, Stern Y, Mayeux R, Manly JJ, Schupf N, Luchsinger JA. Mediterranean diet and mild cognitive impairment. Arch Neurol. 2009;66:216–225.

Knopman D. Mediterranean diet and late-life cognitive impairment: a taste of benefit. JAMA. 2009;302:686–687.

Feart C, Samieri C, Alle` s B, Barberger-Gateau P. Potential benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on cognitive health. Proc Nutr Soc. 2013;72:140–152.

Berr C, Portet F, Carriere I, Akbaraly TN, Feart C, Gourlet V, et al. Olive oil and cognition: Results from the threecity study. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2009;28:357–364.

Barberger-Gateau P, Letenneur L, Deschamps V, Péres K, Dartigues JF, Renaud S. Fish, meat, and risk of dementia: Cohort study. BMJ 2002;325:932–933.

Morris M, Evans D, Tangney C, Bienias JL, Wilson RS. Fish consumption and cognitive decline with age in a large community study. Arch Neurol. 2005;62:1849–1853.

Huang T, Zandi P, Tucker K, Fitzpatrick AL, Kuller LH, Fried LP, et al. Benefits of fatty fish on dementia risk are stronger for those without APOE epsilon4. Neurology. 2005;65:1409–1414.

Hughes T, Andel R, Small B, Borenstein AR, Mortimer JA, Wolk A, et al. Midlife fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of dementia in later life in Swedish twins. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010;18:413–420.

Polidori M, Praticó D, Mangialasche F, Mariani E, Aust O, Anlasik T, et al. High Fruit and Vegetable Intake is Positively Correlated with Antioxidant Status and Cognitive Performance in Healthy Subjects. J Alzheimers Dis. 2009;17:921–927.

Lourida I, Soni M, Thompson-Coon J, Purandare N, Lang IA, Ukoumunne OC, et al. Mediterranean diet, cognitive function, and dementia: a systematic review. Epidemiology. 2013;24:479–489.

Feart C, Samieri C, Barberger-Gateau P. Mediterranean diet and cognitive health: an update of available knowledge.Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2015;18:51–62.

Deckers K1, van Boxtel MP, Schiepers OJ, de Vugt M, Munoz Sánchez JL, Anstey KJ, et al. Target risk factors for dementia prevention: a systematic review and Delphi consensus study on the evidence from observational studies. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;30:234–46.

Kalmijn S, Launer L, Ott A. Dietary fat intake and the risk of incydent dementia in the Rotterdam Study. Ann Neurol. 1997;42:776–782.

Lopez L, Kritz-Silverstein D, Barrett Connor E. High dietary and plasma levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid are associated with decreased dementia risk: the Rancho Bernardo study. J Nutr Health Aging. 2011;15:25–31.

Naqvi AZ, Harty B, Mukamal KJ, Stoddard AM, Vitolins M, Dunn JE. Monounsaturated, trans, and saturated Fatty acids and cognitive decline in women. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59:837–843.

Samieri C, Feart C, Proust-Lima C, Peuchant E, Dartigues JF, Amieva H, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive decline: modulation by ApoEepsilon4 allele and depression. Neurobiol Aging. 2011;32:2317–13–22.

Devore EE, Grodstein F, van Rooij FJ, Hofman A, Rosner B, Stampfer MJ, et al. Dietary intake of fish and omega-3 fatty acids in relation to long-term dementia risk. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90:170–176.

Kröger E, Verreault R, Carmichael P, Lindsay J, Julien P, Dewailly E, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and risk of dementia: The Canadian Study of Health and Aging. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90:184–192.

Sydenham E, Dangour AD, Lim WS. Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 6: CD005379.

Marshall T, Stumbo P, Warren J, Xie X-J. Inadequate nutrient intakes are common and are associated with low diet variety in rural, community-dwelling elderly. J. Nutr. 2001;131:2192–2196.

Selvatici R, Marani L, Marino S, Siniscalchi A. In vitro mitochondrial failure and oxidative stress mimic biochemical features of Alzheimer disease. Neurochem Int. 2013;63:112–1120.

Schmidt R, Hayn M, Reinhard B. Plasma antioxidants and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults: results of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998;46:1407–1410.

Perkins A, Hendrie H, Callahan C. Association of antioxidants with memory in a multiethnic elderly sample using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;150:37–44.

Perrig W, Perrig P, Stahelin H. The relation between antioxidants and memory performance in the old and very old. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1997;45:718–724.

Morris M, Evans D, Bienias J. Dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients and the risk of incident Alzheimer diseases in a Biracial Community Study. JAMA. 2002;287:3230–3237.

Otrega R, Requejo A, Lopez-Sobaler A, Andres P. Cognitive Function in Elderly People is influence by vitamin E status. J Nutr. 2002;132:2065–2068.

Morris M, Evans DA, Tangney CC, Bienias JL, Wilson RS, Aggarwal NT, et al. Relation of the tocopherol forms to incident Alzheimer disease and to cognitive change. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81:508–514.

Huang HY, Appel LJ. Supplementation of diets with alpha-tocopherol reduces serum concentrations of gamma- and delta-tocopherol in humans. J Nutr. 2003;133:3137–40.

Devore EE, Grodstein F, van Rooij FJ, Hofman A, Stampfer MJ, Witteman JC, et al. Dietary antioxidants and long-term risk of dementia. Arch Neurol. 2010;67:819–25.

Zandi P, Anthony J, Khachaturian A, Stone S. Reduced risk of Alzheimer disease in users of antioxidant vitamin supplements. Arch. Neurol. 2004;61:82–88.

Engelhart M, Geerlings M, Ruitenberg A, van Swieten JC, Hofman A, Witteman JC, et al.. Dietary intake of antioxidants and risk of Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 2002;287:3223–3229.

Morris MS, Jacques PF, Rosenberg IH, Selhub J. Hyperhomocysteinemia associated with poor recall in the third national health and nutrition examination survey. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73:927–933.

Lehmann M, Gottfries CG, Regland B. Identification of cognitive impairment in the elderly: homocysteine is an early marker. Dement Geriatr Cogn. 1999;10:12–20.

Malaguarnera M, Ferri R, Bella R. Homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate in vascular dementia and in Alzheimer disease. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2004;42:1032–1035.

Corrada M, Kawas C, Hallfrisch J, Muller D, Brookmeyer R. Reduced risk of alzheimer’s disease with high folate intake: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Alzheimer’s & Dement. 2005;1:11–18.

Wang H, Wahlin A, Basun H. Vitamin B12 and foliate in relation to the development of Alzheimer ‘s disease. Neurology. 2001;56:1188–1194.

Walker J, Batterham P, MacKinnon A, Jorm AF, Hickie I, Fenech M, et al. Oral folic acid and vitamin B-12 supplementation to prevent cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms – the Beyond Ageing Project: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:194–203.

Morris M, Evans D, Schneider J, Tangney CC, Bienias JL, Aggarwal NT. Dietary folate and vitamins B-12 and B-6 not associated with incident Alzheimer’s disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2006;9:435–443.

Nelson C, Wengreen H, Munger R, Corcoran C. Dietary folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6 and incident Alzheimer’s disease: The cache county memory, health and aging study. J Nutr Health Aging. 2009;13:899–905.

Madsen SK, Rajagopalan P, Joshi SH, Toga AW, Thompson PM. Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Higher homocysteine associated with thinner cortical gray matter in 803 participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Neurobiol Aging. 2015; 36: 203–210.

Downloads

Published

2016-09-28

How to Cite

1.
Dudkowiak R, Gryglas A, Poniewierka E. The role of diet and antioxidants in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. JMS [Internet]. 2016 Sep. 28 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];85(3):205-12. Available from: https://jms.ump.edu.pl/index.php/JMS/article/view/144

Issue

Section

Review Papers
Received 2016-08-02
Published 2016-09-28