Nutritional drink can help to conserve memory in case of prodromal Alzheimer's disease

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/su-ndc031016.php

Public Release: 10-Mar-2016
Nutritional drink can help to conserve memory in case of prodromal Alzheimer's disease
Two-year, EU-funded study reveals a medical food in the form of a daily nutritional drink can help to conserve memory, the ability to think and perform everyday tasks, as well as reduce brain shrinkage in people with prodromal Alzheimer's disease
Saarland University

The study did not find a significant benefit in broad cognitive function (the study primary endpoint). Cognitive decline over the study period was less than originally expected when it was designed ten years ago, so differences found between the two groups were too small to be statistically significant. Project coordinator Professor Tobias Hartmann, Saarland University Germany, explained that this is the most likely reason the primary endpoint was not met.

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The LipiDiDiet study illustrates that this nutritional intervention can help to conserve brain tissue and also memory and patients' ability to perform everyday tasks -- possibly the most troubling aspects of the disease. We look forward to the results of subsequent analyses and the six year extension study which will provide further insights".

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Tobias Hartmann, the project's coordinator, said "We have known for a while that diet can reduce the risk of developing dementia. Indeed, certain nutrients have been found to have a neuroprotective effect on the brain. However translating this into an effective intervention hasn't been easy because single nutrients simply aren't powerful enough to fight a disease like Alzheimer's alone. Today's clinical trial results have shown that the key is combining certain nutrients, in order to increase their effect.

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