Alzheimer: The danger of consuming carbohydrates and sugar

October 20, 2012
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Older people who eat a diet rich in carbohydrates are four times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.

New research from the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States found that the risk is also higher with a diet high in sugar.

Moreover, proteins and fats seem to offer some protection, people who eat a lot of them are less likely to suffer cognitive impairment.

Not all people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but many do, said lead author Rosebud Roberts, a professor in the department of epidemiology at the Mayo Clinic.

MCI is defined as memory loss evident to the individual and his environment, but with no other symptoms of dementia, such as changes in personality and mood.

Previous research suggests that 10 to 15 percent of people with mild cognitive impairment went on to develop dementia according to the results of the investigation.