Amanda MacMillan Health.com
The researchers think probiotics might help protect against memory loss in people with Alzheimer’s, but it’s too early to say for sure.Probiotics are well-known for their digestive health perks. But scientists have wondered if the “good” bugs might also affect our brains, since the brain and the gut appear to be closely connected.
Now, a study suggests that taking a daily probiotic supplement may slightly improve memory and thinking skills in older adults. Beneficial bacteria may offer protection against Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, as suggested by Iranian researchers, but confirming these findings requires further studies.
Other research has shown
that mice fed probiotics had improved thinking and memory skills. The authors state that until now, no placebo-controlled trials had conducted on people. One group received plain milk, while the other received milk treated with probiotics containing specific strains. The researchers conducted brain function tests at the beginning and end of the study to measure cognitive abilities, including memory, counting, object naming, phrase repetition, and picture copying.
They also gave blood samples to measure other metabolic changes.
Over the 12 weeks, those in the probiotic group reported no side effects and their average cognitive score rose slightly—from 8.7 to 10.6 out of a 30-point maximum. In the placebo group, scores went down a bit, from 8.5 to 8.0.
This is only a mild improvement, (Alzheimer’s)
say the study authors, and all of the participants remained severely impaired. But the findings are still important, they add, because they are the first to show any brain benefits from probiotics in humans. The authors say they have no financial conflicts of interest, although a supplement maker donated the probiotics for the study.
A recent study suggests that probiotic supplementation shows hopeful trends in improving cognitive symptoms. Further research with larger patient groups and longer study periods is needed to confirm these effects. The study also found additional benefits, including improved memory, lower cholesterol levels, and improved insulin resistance measures, associated with daily probiotic consumption.
It also appeared (Alzheimer’s)
to lower levels of a marker of inflammation found in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s (called high-sensitivity c-reactive protein)—although it had no effect on other biomarkers of cell damage or inflammation.
According to senior author Mahmoud Salami, PhD, the findings suggest that probiotics may influence Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders through metabolic adjustments. The study, conducted by Kashan University in Iran, highlights the potential mechanisms behind probiotic effects. “We plan to look at these mechanisms in greater detail in our next study.”
Probiotics and Neurological Function: Gut Microbiome Connection
Research suggests a link between the gut microbiome and neurological functioning. Probiotics influence both aspects, with potential implications for conditions like Alzheimer’s. Consult your doctor for recommended probiotic products and dosage, with up to 20 billion CFUs per day deemed safe for healthy adults.
Of course, you can also get the beneficial bugs by eating fermented foods. To work more of them into your diet, here’s a list of 9 probiotic foods other than yogurt.