A daily fiber supplement boosted brain function in people over 60, and did it in just 12 weeks.
As reported here in Medical Express, researchers assigned 36 twin pairs over the age of 60, (72 individuals), “to receive either a placebo or the supplement every day for 12 weeks. Neither the analysis team, nor the participants knew which they received until the analysis was complete (double-blind). Alongside this, all study participants did resistance exercises and ate a protein supplement which was aimed at improving muscle function.”
The research was conducted at TwinsUK, the U.K.’s largest adult twin registry based at King’s College London. The goal was “to understand how targeting the microbiota, the diverse community of microorganisms residing in our intestines, using two cheap, commercially available plant fiber supplements inulin and FOS, could impact both muscle health and brain function.”
The results were dramatic:
“Researchers monitored participants remotely via video, online questionnaires and cognitive tests. They found the fiber supplement led to significant changes in the participants’ gut microbiome composition, particularly an increase in the numbers of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium.
“While there was no significant difference in muscle strength between the groups, the group receiving the fiber supplement performed better in tests assessing brain function, including the Paired Associates Learning test which is an early marker for Alzheimer’s disease, together with tests of reaction time and processing speed. These measures are important for daily living—for example reacting to traffic or stopping a simple trip-up turning into a fall.”
Not surprisingly, the researchers were delighted by the findings. The article quotes Dr. Mary Ni Lochlainn from the Department of Twin Research: “We are excited to see these changes in just 12 weeks. This holds huge promise for enhancing brain health and memory in our aging population. Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could offer new approaches for living more healthily for longer.”
What about the supplements that were used in the study?
Prebiotics are special plant fibers that help healthy bacteria grow in your gut.
Inulin is a prebiotic that is found in many plants, including wheat, raw barley, raw asparagus and garlic. It can also be an ingredient in yogurt and in protein and cereal bars, as well as being available in powdered form.
FOS, or fructo-oligosaccharides, are plant sugars that are found in many fruits and vegetables, including bananas, onions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus and leeks, as well as being available in powdered form.
The article quotes Professor Claire Steeves, Professor of Aging and Health at Kings College: “These plant fibers, which are cheap and available over the counter, could benefit a wide group of people in these cash-strapped times. They are safe and acceptable too. Our next task is to see whether these effects are sustained over longer periods and in larger groups of people.”
We’ll keep a close watch on this topic to see how the results work out with more people over longer periods. But the findings are certainly very encouraging!