With the aging of the world’s population, an increase in the prevalence of age-related health problems, such as cognitive decline and loss of muscle mass, has been observed. To prevent diseases or delay their appearance, the type of diet is important and research carried out by specialists from the School of Life Course and Population Sciences at King’s College London (United Kingdom) has shown, specifically, that a simple dietary supplement can improve performance on memory tests related to early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers from TwinsUK, the largest adult twin registry in the United Kingdom located at King’s College London, set out to explore how the manipulation of the microbiota (community of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc., that live in our intestines) through Two low-cost and easily acquired plant fiber supplements: inulin and FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), could influence both muscle health and brain function.
The results have been published in Nature Communications and have also revealed that prebiotic supplements of inulin and FOS have no influence on muscle strength during the same time interval. “We are excited to see these changes in just 12 weeks. This holds great promise for improving brain and memory health in our aging population. Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could offer new approaches to living healthier for longer,” said Dr Mary Ni Lochlainn, from the Department of Twin Research and first author.
Improvements to reaction time and processing speed
The study assigned 36 pairs of twins – 72 subjects in total – over the age of 60 to receive either a placebo or the supplement daily for 12 weeks. Both the researchers and the participants were unaware of what was being given to each group until the end of the study (double blind). Additionally, all study participants performed resistance exercises and consumed a protein supplement aimed at improving muscle function.
Monitoring of participants was carried out remotely through video, online questionnaires and cognitive tests. It was observed that the fiber supplement induced significant changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome of the participants, especially highlighting the increase in the amount of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium.
“Seeing these changes in just 12 weeks holds great promise for improving brain and memory health in our aging population.”
Although no significant differences in muscle strength were noted between the groups, those who received the fiber supplement showed better performance on tests of brain function, including the Paired Association Learning test, which is an early marker of the disease. Alzheimer’s, as well as in tests of reaction time and processing speed. These skills are crucial for everyday life, such as reacting to traffic or preventing a minor trip from turning into a fall.
“These plant fibers, which are cheap and can be obtained without a prescription, could benefit a wide group of people in these times of economic scarcity. Additionally, they are also safe and easy to tolerate. Our next task is to see if these effects are maintained over longer periods and in larger groups of people,” said Professor Claire Steves, Professor of Aging and Health and another of the lead authors.
Another innovative aspect of the study was its remote design, which demonstrated the feasibility of conducting trials in older adults without the need for extensive travel or hospital visits, which could be implemented in various contexts worldwide. The challenges they had to face were digital literacy and access to the necessary technology, which will be addressed in future larger-scale projects with the aim of improving the quality of life of aging populations around the world.
