#214 - Is fructose a driver of Alzheimer’s disease? | Dr. Richard Johnson & Dr. Rob Lustig

Fructose and its byproduct uric acid may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, thanks to an evolutionary adaptation hijacked by the modern diet. Fructose can be directly consumed, or the body can convert high-glycemic carbohydrates and other foods to fructose. Fructose suppresses some cognitive functions. Dr. Richard Johnson and Dr. Rob Lustig discuss a new study, of which Johnson was an author, on how fructose may be a potential driver in Alzheimer’s, and they hypothesize about fructose’s potential connection to the development of other conditions.

🎙 What Richard Johnson, MD, & Rob Lustig, MD, discuss:

(09:50) — Fructose is the driver of some diseases that are on the rise in kids

(11:53) — Fructose is a driver of obesity and metabolic syndrome

(15:36) — Pharmaceutical treatments for Alzheimer’s disease aren’t as effective as researchers had hoped

(17:32)— The research focus of Alzheimer’s is slowly shifting to understanding insulin resistance in the brain

(20:41) — Is fructose a root cause of Alzheimer’s?

(26:26) — New research suggests fructose induces a foraging response

(28:20) — Fructose inhibits areas of the brain to encourage successful foraging

(46:48) — We need more research on fructose

(1:03:10) —Is fructose a factor in violence?

Transcripts & Show notes

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

👋 WHO WE ARE:

Levels helps you see how food affects your health. With real-time, personalized data gathered through biosensors like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), you learn which diet and lifestyle choices improve your metabolic health so you can live a longer, fuller, healthier life.

🔗 LINKS:

Could Alzheimer’s disease be a maladaptation of an evolutionary survival pathway mediated by intracerebral fructose and uric acid metabolism?: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916523000047?dgcid=author

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📲 CONNECT:

Connect with Richard Johnson, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardjjohnson/

Connect with Robert Lustig, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertlustigmd/