Scientists at the University of Colorado have found that fructose may be linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The results of the research were published at: magazine American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Alzheimer’s disease is usually caused by an accumulation of inflammatory proteins in the human brain that slowly destroys neurons, which has a negative effect on cognitive function. The authors suggest that Alzheimer’s disease may be caused by a craving for food and a constant foraging.
This behavior often manifests itself during periods of hunger. It blocks anything that hinders effective foraging, such as recent memories and attention to time. Fructose, a type of sugar, helps weaken the centers in the brain responsible for these functions. Fructose metabolism reduces blood flow to the hippocampus and thalamus, as well as to the cerebral cortex responsible for autocontrol. Meanwhile, blood flow increases around the visual cortex associated with food reward.
“Chronic and persistent decline in brain metabolism leads to progressive brain atrophy and loss of neurons that carry all the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Most likely, in some people this behavior is constantly “on.” leads,” he said.
This was confirmed by experiments: animals treated with fructose had memory deficits, loss of maze navigation, and inflammation of neurons.
“The study showed that if laboratory rats were kept on fructose long enough, they developed large amounts of tau and beta-amyloid proteins in their brains that have been observed in Alzheimer’s disease,” the researchers wrote.