Impact of Eating a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet on Cortical Atrophy in a Cross-Section of Amyloid Positive Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Small Sample Study.
Publication Title
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Keywords
california; sjci; pni; washington; isb; Alzheimer’s disease; amyloid; atrophy; carbohydrate-restricted; carbohydrates; cerebral cortical thinning; cognitive dysfunction; diet; magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A carbohydrate-restricted diet aimed at lowering insulin levels has the potential to slow Alzheimer's disease (AD). Restricting carbohydrate consumption reduces insulin resistance, which could improve glucose uptake and neural health. A hallmark feature of AD is widespread cortical thinning; however, no study has demonstrated that lower net carbohydrate (nCHO) intake is linked to attenuated cortical atrophy in patients with AD and confirmed amyloidosis.
OBJECTIVE: We tested the hypothesis that individuals with AD and confirmed amyloid burden eating a carbohydrate-restricted diet have thicker cortex than those eating a moderate-to-high carbohydrate diet.
METHODS: A total of 31 patients (mean age 71.4±7.0 years) with AD and confirmed amyloid burden were divided into two groups based on a 130 g/day nCHO cutoff. Cortical thickness was estimated from T1-weighted MRI using FreeSurfer. Cortical surface analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons using cluster-wise probability. We assessed group differences using a two-tailed two-independent sample t-test. Linear regression analyses using nCHO as a continuous variable, accounting for confounders, were also conducted.
RESULTS: The lower nCHO group had significantly thicker cortex within somatomotor and visual networks. Linear regression analysis revealed that lower nCHO intake levels had a significant association with cortical thickness within the frontoparietal, cingulo-opercular, and visual networks.
CONCLUSIONS: Restricting carbohydrates may be associated with reduced atrophy in patients with AD. Lowering nCHO to under 130 g/day would allow patients to follow the well-validated MIND diet while benefiting from lower insulin levels.
Area of Special Interest
Mental Health
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Area of Special Interest
Digestive Health
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
Specialty/Research Institute
Nutrition
