A study from the University of Southern California (USC) recently discovered that an ordinary, low-protein diet could slow signs of Alzheimer´s and boost memory in mice. The Alzheimer´s Association defines the condition like a type of dementia related to difficulties with behavior, memory and thinking.

In the research, mice with advanced stages of Alzheimer´s disease were put on a new diet. These were given specific proteins every other week along with a protein-restricted diet on the four-month period. The scientists then tested the memory from the mice using mazes, and their results showed that the mice with the low-protein diet had improved cognitive function when compared to mice within the control group. They also learned that the mice that consumed less protein had fewer abnormal levels of tau, a harmful protein found in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer´s.

In addition, they studied the correlation between IGF-1, a growth hormone that’s regulated by dietary protein, and Alhzeimer´s. IGF-1 is known to play a role in the development of your body during youth but has additionally been connected to several diseases that occur later in life. The USC team of researchers found that a protein-restricted diet lowered the amount of IGF-1 in the mice by 30 to 70 percent.

“We’d previously shown that humans deficient in Growth Hormone receptor and IGF-I displayed reduced incidence of cancer and diabetes. Although the new study is in mice, it enhances the possibility that low protein intake and low IGF-I may also protect from age-dependent neurodegeneration,” explained Valter Longo, a USC Professor who directs the Longevity Institute of the USC Davis School of Gerontology, inside a prepared statement.

“Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of neurodegeneration are a major burden on society, which is a rising priority for this nation to build up new processes for preventing and treating these conditions, because the frequencies of those disorders is going to be rising because the population ages over the next several decades,” said Pinchas Cohen, dean of USC School of Gerontology. “New ways of address this, particularly non-invasive, non-pharmacological approaches such as tested in Dr. Longo’s study are particularly exciting.”

The researchers still find it vital that you consider dietary solutions to the diseases rather than producing pharmaceuticals that may impact IGF-1 directly. “We always attempt to do things for people who have the problem now,” continued Longo in a statement. “Creating a drug may take Fifteen years of trials along with a billion dollars.”

The researchers says that it is important for doctors or registered dieticians to monitor the healthiness of elderly patients who do decide to engage in a protein-restricted diet in order to ensure that they don’t become deficit in proteins, lose extra weight or develop other part effects.

“Although only numerous studies can see whether the protein-restricted weight loss program is effective and safe in humans with cognitive impairment, a doctor could read this study today and, if their patient was without any other viable options, could consider introducing the protein restriction cycles within the treatment understanding that effective interventions in mice may not translate into effective human therapies,” remarked Longo within the statement.

Research into Alzheimer´s treatment has gained enormous traction within the last couple of years as awareness from the devastating disease keeps growing. Last year President Barack Obama´s administration pledged to enhance efforts to fight Alzheimer´s disease, including increasing federal funds available for Alzheimer´s research. They also placed an emphasis on improving caregiver support, public health education and knowledge infrastructure.

“We can´t wait to do something; lowering the burden of Alzheimer´s disease on patients as well as their families is definitely an urgent national priority,” said US Health insurance and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a prepared statement.

The outcomes of the research were published in the online edition of the journal Aging Cell last month.