A drink has been created that helps protect against dementia

Scientists from the University of South Florida have made an amazing discovery by creating a unique probiotic cocktail capable of preventing dementia. The study, published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports, demonstrates that a special mixture of "good" bacteria effectively reduces intestinal permeability, protects the brain from inflammation, and significantly lowers the risks of cognitive impairment.

As part of a large-scale experiment, laboratory mice were given a special combination of probiotic strains in their drinking water for 16 weeks. After the course, the animals underwent a complex spatial memory test - the famous "water maze." The results were impressive: rodents that received the probiotic cocktail demonstrated much better performance, completing the task significantly faster than the control group.

The scientific team identified an amazing mechanism of action for the probiotics: the components of the drink effectively slowed down the production of proteins that provoke the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain - a key sign of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the cocktail significantly reduced inflammation in the brain and preserved the integrity of the blood-brain barrier - a critically important protective filter between the bloodstream and brain tissue.

"Usually people take single-component probiotics. But we have shown that a complex mixture works much more effectively, influencing the microbiome and switching it from a 'bad' mode to a 'good' one," emphasized Dr. Yadav, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair at the Morsani College of Medicine.

Researchers emphasize the danger of "leaky gut" - a condition in which harmful microorganisms and toxins freely penetrate from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream. This phenomenon triggers a cascade of inflammatory reactions that can reach the brain, activating its immune system and causing neuroinflammation, which significantly increases the risk of developing dementia.

The development of an innovative probiotic cocktail could be a revolutionary step toward safe and effective prevention of age-related cognitive impairments associated with gastrointestinal pathologies.