THE KETOGENIC DIET, THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN THE PREVENTION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the disturbance of human cognition, function and behavior, also it is the most common cause of dementia. In this sense, the practice of physical exercise and some specific diets, such as the ketogenic diet and the Mediterranean diet, are beginning to emerge in some studies as preventive factors for Alzheimer's disease, leading to a demand for more in-depth and standardized studies on these factors. Therefore, the present work aims to understand the relationship between ketogenic and Mediterranean diets and the practice of regular physical exercise as factors in the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. This is a literature review about these factors and its role in the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease. To this end, after due application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 (twenty) articles were selected for the writing of this work. Among these, it was observed that eating habits have a primary role in preventing and also in delaying the evolution of the pathology, especially the ketogenic and Mediterranean diets, which are based on a diversified dietary routine, with food being highlighted as a modulating factor, that is, altering the course of the disease. Furthermore, as extracted from the aforementioned literature, there are several ways related to the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease along with the practice of physical exercise. We cannot fail to notice, however, that some of these pathways are divergent in the scientific literature. Still, most research tends toward a positive association. Thus, it appears that the practice of physical exercise associated with other measures is efficient in preventing Alzheimer's disease.