“ These industrial plant fibers , which are cheap and available over - the - counter , could benefit a all-embracing mathematical group of people in these hard currency - strapped times . "

According toAlzheimer ’s Research UK ,   98 % of people could improve how they search after their brain wellness and a study released this hebdomad has found that a simple add-on could be beneficial in forbid the onset of dementia thanks to brain - wellness properties .

In a study publish in the journalNature , researchers found that a dietetical supplement improved function in people over 60 when taken over the course of just 12 weeks .

Elderly man with glasses and beard looking closely at a small object in his hand

The supplement consist of two inexpensive and readily available source of plant fibre : inulin and fructooligosaccharide ( FOS ) . These center are considered prebiotics , solid food that nourish the “ good ” bacteria that exist in the human bowel .

These bacterium and other germ are jointly known as the ‘ gut microbiome ’ and havebeen previously foundto be link to cognitive wellness disease like Alzheimer ’s . With this in mind , the researchers were looking to see if take a prebiotic supplement could help bear out better brain function in older people .

The impact of fiber supplements on cognitive performance

Participants that take the fiber add-on containing inulin and fructooligosaccharide retrieve no improvements in heftiness strength but scored well across several test of memory , response time , and processing speed   — including substantial improvements in thePaired Associates Learning run , which can be used as an early index of Alzheimer ’s disease .

“ These plant fibers , which are chintzy and available over - the - buffet , could do good a wide group of citizenry in these hard cash - strapped time . They are safe and acceptable too , ” said senior source Professor Claire Steves .

Steves added that the next programme of action for the researchers is to see if this is something that can have long - term benefit for older people , too .

A person holding a pill in one hand and a glass of water in the other, ready to take the medication

Study author Dr Ni Lochlainn added : “ Unlocking the secrets of the catgut - brain axis could pop the question new approach for know more healthily for recollective . ”

Help your brain health by addressing these factors

Alzheimer ’s Research UK hasalso cover that , according to the former evidence , up to 40 % of dementedness cases globally could be keep or delayed by address 12 risk factors in our day - to - mean solar day lives .

The 12 risk factors are :

A stethoscope is wrapped around a model of a human brain on a plain background