Written by: Brittany T. Truong, Ph.D. | Issue # 126 | 2025
- There are currently no pharmacological solutions for delaying or reversing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have turned to food and nutritional supplements as a potential treatment alternative.
- In a recent study, adults with mild cognitive impairment had improved cognitive function after consuming whey protein powder containing vitamins B6 and B12, taurine, and milk fat globule membrane.
- These nutrients support neurogenesis, synaptic function, and phospholipid synthesis in nerve membranes and may reduce neuroinflammation.
- Whey protein powder may provide a nutritional strategy for improving cognitive function and potentially delaying Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2023, approximately 32 million people worldwide were estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease [1]. There are currently no pharmacological treatments for delaying or reversing disease progression. Instead, researchers have turned to food, or “nutraceuticals,” as a potential therapeutic option for prevention.
In a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers at Wuhan University in China found that whey protein powder containing milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), vitamins B6 and B12, and taurine improved cognitive function in older adults with minor cognitive impairment [2]. The data suggest that this whey protein powder and the additional nutrients may prevent cognitive decline.
In this 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adults over 55 years of age with mild cognitive impairment received whey protein powder or a placebo daily. The researchers evaluated the participants’ cognitive function at 0, 6, and 12 months using various tests that assessed short- and long-term memory, orientation, attention, language, and visuospatial and executive functioning [2].
Participants who consumed whey protein powder had significantly improved cognitive function after 12 months compared to the placebo group. Interestingly, the treatment group also had improved muscle mass, suggesting that whey protein powder can help combat muscle loss in older adults [2].
The researchers noted that they were not surprised by these results. Their whey protein powder consisted of vitamins B6 and B12, which promote phospholipid synthesis [3]; taurine, which increases neurogenesis and synaptic function [4]; and MFGM, which supports neurodevelopment and cognitive function by providing a rich source of phospholipids to the brain [5]. However, the researchers did not directly test the mechanism of action of their whey protein powder, so it is unclear how it biochemically affects the brain.
Additional studies are needed to support these findings. A longer intervention period would be beneficial. In addition, the authors proposed performing additional cognitive tests and collecting more objective data, such as blood markers or brain scans.
Regardless, these data are consistent with previous studies in both mice and humans [5]. Mice genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease perform better on learning and memory tests, have lower levels of amyloid beta and tau proteins, and have decreased inflammation after consuming chow supplemented with whey protein powder and MFGM for 3 months. Similarly, in humans, a recent study has shown that the consumption of buttermilk enriched with MFGM led to better short- and long-term memory in female adults aged 65 years or older compared to the control, skim milk [6].
MFGM has been extensively studied over the years because it is a rich source of phospholipids, and it is abundant in industrial byproducts, such as buttermilk and cheese whey [5]. It is often added as a supplement in infant formula to support the baby’s immune system and neurodevelopment.
Javier Fontecha, a researcher at the Institute of Food Science Research in Spain and an outside expert on this subject, says that this knowledge should be used for the development of similar formulas, but for the senior population. This “may have an impact on slowing cognitive decline in older people.”
This research adds to the growing body of knowledge that food and nutritional supplements can have a significant impact on cognitive function [2].
“Considering that there is no pharmacological solution to prevent or avoid cognitive decline during aging,” he adds, “the availability of a well-characterized dietary supplement with sufficient support and science evidence to prevent this pathology would be very important.”
References
- Gustavsson A, Norton N, Fast T, Frölich L, Georges J, Holzapfel D, et al. Global estimates on the number of persons across the alzheimer’s disease continuum. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2023;19(2):658-70.
- Li F, He R, Yue Z, Yi H, Lu L, Zhang L, et al. Effect of a 12-mo intervention with whey protein powder on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 Feb;121(2):256-64.
- van Wijk N, Hageman R, Kamphuis P, Broersen L, Sijben J. Specific nutrients to increase availability of components involved in neuronal membrane synthesis. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2011 2011/07/01/;7(4, Supplement):S665-S6.
- Chen C, Xia S, He J, Lu G, Xie Z, Han H. Roles of taurine in cognitive function of physiology, pathologies and toxication. Life Sciences. 2019 2019/08/15/;231:116584.
- Luque-Uria A, Calvo MV, Visioli F, Fontecha J. Milk fat globule membrane and its polar lipids: Reviewing preclinical and clinical trials on cognition. Food Funct. 2024 Jul 1;15(13):6783-97.
- V. Calvo M, Loria Kohen V, Díaz-Mardomingo C, García-Herranz S, Baliyan S, Tomé-Carneiro J, et al. Milk fat globule membrane-enriched milk improves episodic memory: A randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in older adults. J Funct Foods. 2023;111.