Study Finds that Polyphenols and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Boost the Birth of New Neurons

Mercedes Unzeta, a professor of UAB Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, led a study that found that certain diet-related acids help boost neurogenesis, or the birth of new neurons. Neurons affected are found mostly in the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, and are heavily related to Alzheimer's Disease.

The aforementioned study was performed on mice (of course) and involved feeding them what the team has patented as the LMN diet. The diet was rich in polyphenols and polyunsaturated fats - antioxidant substances that help boost production of the brain's stem cells and fortify their differentiation into different types of neural cells (neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes). The diet-induced excitation of neurogenesis helps delay the onset of Alzheimer's as well as slow down its progression.

Polyphenols are found naturally in a plethora of food and drink, a few of which are beer, olive oil, and nuts. Polyunsaturated fats are found in certain types of fish and vegetables. A cream made from these substances was applied to the rats in this study, so it is unclear whether oral ingestion of these antioxidants is very effective.

In conclusion, the study found that an LMN diet is capable of inducing generation of new neuronal cells in the brain that can help postpone and slow the beginning and progression of Alzheimer's disease.