A diet containing walnuts helps improve the functioning of mice at risk of Alzheimer’s disease, the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reads.
Researchers at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (USA) found that daily consumption of walnuts correlated with anxiety relief and improved motor functions, learning and memory in mice suffering from Alzheimer’s.
Researchers were inspired by previous studies suggesting that walnut extract counteracts the effects of oxidative stress induced by the amyloid beta protein, which plays a large role in the formation of senile plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
As part of this experiment, they decided to feed the mice with 6 or 9 percent food each day. with walnuts. On a human dose basis, this would be around 28 or 43 grams.
The results of the experiment turned out to be very satisfactory. The nut-fed rodents began to function much better in many respects than before.
The authors of the study believe that walnuts’ high antioxidant content is responsible for preventing the degeneration typical of Alzheimer’s disease. They also suspect that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is involved in this process. (PAP)