A $0.50 supplement combination can improve memory to prevent dementia, major study finds
Supplements are touted as fixes for everything from digestion to the immune system and even sleep.
Now, scientists say, a simple and cheap combination of two supplements could sharpen memory: Taking a prebiotic and protein supplement at the same time.
In a resurfaced study, researchers at King’s College London tracked 36 twin pairs — 72 individuals in total — over 12 weeks. In each pair, one twin was given the supplement combination while the other took a placebo combination.
At the end of the study, cognitive tests showed twins taking the supplements had better cognition than the twins who did not.
Dr Claire Steves, a geriatrician involved in the study, said at the time: ‘These [supplements], which are cheap and available over-the-counter, could benefit a wide group of people in these cash-strapped times.
‘They are safe and acceptable too.’
Dr Mary Ni Lochlainn, a geriatrician also involved in the paper, added: ‘We are excited to see these changes in just 12 weeks. This holds huge promise for enhancing brain health and memory in our aging population.
‘Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could offer new approaches for living more healthily for longer.’
Jana Nelson was 50 when diagnosed with early onset dementia, following severe personality changes and a sharp cognitive decline that left her unable to solve simple math problems or name colors. There is no suggestion that she developed this complication because of cannabis
Scientists have found that consuming a combination of two supplements may boost your brain health (stock image)
In the study, which was published in 2024 but was recently resurfaced, participants took the supplements mixed together as a powder that was dissolved into a glass of water.
The protein powder they took was BCAA, branched-chain amino acids, which people take to boost muscle synthesis and prevent muscle breakdown.
For the prebiotic, participants took either inulin, a dietary fiber, or fructooligosaccharide, a plant carbohydrate often used as a low-calorie sweetener.
BCAA costs about $10.99 for 60 capsules, or 36 cents per serving when taking the recommended two capsules per day. Inulin and fructooligosaccharides cost about $17 for 1lb, equivalent to about 15 cents per teaspoon-sized dose.
Prebiotics are plant fibers that can pass through the stomach and act as fuel for beneficial bacteria. People may take them to boost digestion, reduce inflammation and enhance mineral absorption.
They differ from probiotics, which are live micro-organisms. They are also able to travel through the stomach and colonize the intestines, boosting digestion.
Both protein and prebiotic supplements can boost the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which scientists say can foster a balanced microbiome, reducing inflammation and potentially also improving cognition.
Researchers are now planning to repeat their study in a larger group in order to confirm their findings (stock image)
Scientists say it has this effect because of the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication network between the brain and gut.
Under the theory, scientists say that improvements to the gut’s microbiota may regulate the release of neurotransmitters in the brain that are linked to inflammation.
The gut and the brain regularly communicate, doctors say, with this communication helping to determine hunger levels, food preferences, digestion, metabolism, mood and even stress levels.
Some experts warn that gut dysbiosis, or imbalance, can cause inflammation and signaling issues that drive neuroinflammation — potentially raising the risk of suffering from dementia.
It was not clear why participants who took the supplements had improved cognitive test scores, but the scientists said that it may have been down to this connection.
In the study, participants were in their 70s on average and most were female. Twins were either monozygotic, or identical twins, and dizygotic, or fraternal twins.
Performing the study in twins reduces the impact of other factors as twins have more similar genetics and environmental factors than unrelated individuals.
For the experiment, participants were urged to take the supplements at the same time every day and also to undertake resistance training.
Twins received the supplements in a sachet with the same appearance, helping to ensure they could not tell which was taking the supplements and which had a placebo.
At the end of 12 weeks, the participants underwent cognitive tests and had a fecal sample analyzed to determine changes in their guts microbiome.
Results showed that twins who took the supplements had more Bifidobacterium in their guts, a ‘beneficial’ bacteria that aids nutrient absorption and reduces inflammation.
Cognitive tests also showed those who took the supplements had better scores than those who did not. In twins taking the experimental combination, they had a ‘significantly lower number of errors’ when taking a memory test.
The results were promising as the particular cognitive test used in the study has ‘clinical significance, having been identified as an early identifier of Alzheimer’s dementia.’
A better score indicates better cognition and less risk of dementia.
Researchers say they are now planning to repeat their study in a larger group in order to confirm their findings.
