Research Review

In a study of 36 pairs of twins, researchers at King’s College London found that taking daily protein and prebiotic supplements can improve memory test scores in those over 60. The same tests used in the study are also used to detect Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings reinforce the growing evidence of a connection between the microbiome and brain health. The prebiotics involved in the study were inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS), both inexpensive fibre prebiotics available over the counter in supplement form.

The study randomly split the twins into two groups, where one person took a daily prebiotic in a protein powder while the other got a placebo. Three months later, the twin who took the prebiotic scored higher on the memory test. They also appeared to have slight changes in their gut microbiome compared with the twin taking the placebo. Those taking the supplement showed an increase in Bifidobacterium, which has been shown in studies on mice to reduce cognitive deficits.

The vast twin registry at King’s College made this research possible. Twin studies are valuable because they allow researchers to examine the differences in the effects of genetics and the environment on health.

Although these findings are promising, the next step is to determine whether they hold true in larger groups and over a longer period of time.

These results need much more study before recommending that we all take these probiotics to prevent dementia. Regularly taking any kind of supplement could have unexpected and potentially harmful consequences. Is this approach the best for everyone, or would a more targeted supplement or even an oral encapsulated bacterial mix based on one’s genetics be more effective? The i-Forget study hopes to be a source for teasing apart questions such as these. Our data set could make a meaningful contribution to this rapidly evolving and promising approach to memory preservation. 

Reference:

Ni Lochlainn, M., Bowyer, R.C.E., Moll, J.M. et al. Effect of gut microbiome modulation on muscle function and cognition: the PROMOTe randomised controlled trial. Nat Commun 15, 1859 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46116-y