'Cheap' daily supplement could improve memory and brain function, experts say

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

An affordable daily supplement could help boost brain function in people over 60, according to experts. A new study has found that adding a daily dose of a fibre supplement to your diet could improve memory test performances associated with early signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Prebiotics are plant fibres that promote healthy gut bacteria and they are readily available over the counter. The study found that while the supplements - inulin and Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) - may have improved brain function they did not affect muscle strength over the three-month period. READ MORE: UK house prices 'turn positive' with first annual growth in a year READ MORE: When State Pension age is set to increase and why - everything you need to know Dr Mary Ni Lochlainn, the study's first author from King's College London, said: "We are excited to see these changes in just 12 weeks.

This holds huge promise for enhancing brain health and memory in our ageing population. Unlocking the secrets of the gut-brain axis could offer new approaches for living more healthily for longer." TwinsUK researchers at King's College London looked to find out how targeting gut microorganisms could impact muscle health and brain function.

For the study, 36 twin pairs - a total of 72 individuals all aged over 60 - received either a placebo supplement or the actual supplement every day for three months.