We know that it exerts a modulating action on blood sugar and insulin peaks after meals and reduces the absorption of cholesterol. And this alone would be enough to make it happen this nutrient is a precious element in the diet. Imagine finding out that Fiber intake is also good for the brain. Precisely what a group of scientists from the authoritative King’s College in London states: fibres, in fact, can modify the intestinal microbiome – the community of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract – and this improves cognitive abilities in adults. Specifically, it looks like taking fiber can boost brain function in just 12 weeks.
Fibers for the brain: the study
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To try to shed light on the (mysterious) link between intestinal health and mental well-being, researchers examined 72 individuals (36 pairs of twins) over the age of 60, evaluating whether an easily available daily prebiotic supplement could improve brain function and physical strength, combined with resistance exercises and protein intake. Participants were randomly given a prebiotic supplement or a placebo, along with a resistance exercise regimen and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation.
The finding was that, although it did not significantly improve muscle strength, the prebiotic supplement brought about notable improvements in cognitive function. Which suggests that addressing gut health could be an easy and affordable way for everyone to combat cognitive decline, a common concern in aging populations. “We are thrilled to have observed these changes in just 12 weeks. It holds enormous promise for improving brain health and memory in our aging population,” explains Mary Ni Lochlainn, from the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London . “Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could offer new approaches to living healthier and longer.”
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The study findings add to a large body of evidence that maintaining a healthy gut microbiome has positive effects on the brain and the hope is that all this will be useful against cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The good news is that you don’t need to take expensive supplements to achieve this: “Plant fibers are cheap and available as over-the-counter medicines and could benefit a large group of people in these cash-strapped times,” notes senior study author Claire Steves, a professor of aging and health at King’s College from London. “They are (supplements) safe and acceptable. Although we now need to understand whether their effects also last for longer periods and work in larger groups of people.”
