Reversal of Alzheimer’s disease with the Mediterranean diet through modulation of the gut microbiome
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Citation
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease is a devastating disease and a major medical challenge of the 21st century without preventative treatment available and absence of a cure. Due to the profound clinical impact on patients with the disease, and emotional and financial impact on their loved ones, there has been extensive research into therapeutic agents. Unfortunately, many of the studies are abandoned or fail due to a lack of complete understanding of the complex pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease, and ineffective drug targets. While the etiology of disease remains controversial, the accumulation of both amyloid beta protein and neurofibrillary tangles has been the most supported theory for the past thirty years. Also in recent years, the gut microbiome has gained much attention for its unexplored potential and role in health and disease, and the Mediterranean Diet has been deemed the “healthiest” diet for the sixth consecutive year by health experts. This study reviews the current understood pathophysiology of AD and standard diagnostic criteria. This thesis aims to provide an overview of the neuroprotective effects of the Mediterranean Diet, the alterations of the gut microbiome that are associated with the Mediterranean Diet, and the alterations of the gut microbiome associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Based on the analysis of the large number of studies presented, this thesis concludes that the Mediterranean Diet optimally modifies the ratio of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes in the gut of people with Alzheimer’s Disease and reduces pathological and symptomatic progression of disease.