UPDATE JULY 2, 2019 5:12 PM EST:
- Study was conducted solely on mice, headline is updated to reflect this. A study on mice does not guarantee it will translate to humans.
ORIGINAL STORY 4/12/2019:
Researchers have found that eating garlic "helps counteract age-related changes in gut bacteria associated with memory problems," according to a recent study that was conducted with mice. The benefit of the garlic lies within allyl sulfide, a compound known for its health benefits, according to a press release.
University of Louisville's Jyortirmaya Behera, PhD, who led the research team with Neetu Tyagi, PhD, said, "Our findings suggest that dietary administration of garlic containing allyl sulfide could help maintain healthy gut microorganisms and improve cognitive health in the elderly."
Tyagi explained that diversity of the gut microbiota "is diminished in elderly people" during a stage of life when diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's develop, causing memory to decline. "We want to better understand how changes in the gut microbiota relate to aging-associated cognitive decline."
The study consisted of the researchers giving oral allyl sulfide to mice that were 24 months old (basically 56-69 human years). The researchers compared the mice with four- and 24-month-old mice that did have the allyl sulfide.
The older mice that had the garlic compound showed "better long- and short-term memory and healthier gut bacteria" than the mice of the same age that didn't have the treatment. In addition, spatial memory in the older mice that didn't receive the garlic compound was impaired.
The release states, "Overall, the new findings suggest that dietary allyl sulfide promotes memory consolidation by restoring gut bacteria." The researchers plan to continue conducting experiments that help them understand "the relationship between gut microbiota and cognitive decline," and how in the future, garlic may be used as treatment for aging humans.
