#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.

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🎙 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

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

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🔗 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/