Protein 'may trigger Alzheimer's'

A high-protein diet may lead to a smaller brain and trigger the onset of Alzheimer's disease, according to a report published in the on-line journal Molecular Neurodegeneration.

The research builds on previous studies suggesting that a low-calorie, low-fat diet rich in vegetables, fruit and fish, may delay onset of the disease or slow its progression.

Researchers focused on Alzheimer's plaque formation in the brains of mice that were genetically modified to develop a severe early-onset form of the condition.

They were fed one of four diets: regular, high-fat/low-carb, high-protein/low-carb or high-carb/low-fat.

Those on the high-protein/low-carb diet were found to have brains 5% lighter than the others. A tentative theory is that this may leave neurones more vulnerable to the plaque.

Says lead author Professor Sam Gandy: "Most of the studies on diet and Alzheimer's in humans have focused on high-fat diets. This gives us reason to look at high-protein diets more closely."

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