Study: Restricting Caloric Intake May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

A study directed by Mount Sinai School of Medicine suggests that experimental dietary regimens might calm or even reverse symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The study, to be published in the July 2006 issue of Journal of Biological Chemistry is the first to show that restricting caloric intake, specifically carbohydrates, may prevent AD by triggering activity in the brain associated with longevity. People with AD show elevated levels of beta-amyloid peptides that cause plaque buildup in the brain (the main characteristic of the disease). Beta-amyloid peptides activate SIRT1, a member of a broad family of proteins known as sirtuins, which influence a variety of functions including metabolism and aging. This study suggests that caloric restriction through promotion of SIRT1 (a molecule associated with brain longevity) may initiate a cascade of events such as the activation of alpha-secretase, which can prevent AD amyloid neuropathology. Since alpha-secretase is known also to inhibit the generation of beta-amyloid peptides in the AD-affected brain, the study demonstrates a mechanism by which dietary caloric restriction might benefit AD patients. Most remarkably, the study finds that a high caloric intake based on saturated fat promotes AD type beta-amyloidosis, while restricting intake of carbohydrate calories can prevent it, according to a Mount Sinai School of Medicine press release .

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