Changing eating habits may help individuals in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s Disease improve or reverse cognitive impairment, according to the findings of a new study.

Researchers at Temple University had previously found that a diet rich in the amino acid methionine could increase the risk of developing the disease. Methionine is typically found in red meats, fish, beans, eggs, garlic, lentils, onions, yogurt and seeds.

For this study, they fed a group of mice a diet high in methionine for five months before breaking the group up into two separate groups – one that continued to eat an amino-acid heavy diet and one that was switched a healthier diet – for an additional two months.

They found that switching to a more healthy diet reversed the cognitive impairment that had built up over the first three months of eating the methionine-rich diet.

"We believe this finding shows that, even if you suffer from the early effects of MCI or Alzheimer’s, switching to a healthier diet that is lower in methionine could be helpful in that memory capacity could be improved," said lead researcher Domenico Praticò.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease currently impacts more than 5 million Americans.

The disease is often treated by both traditional drugs and vitamins and minerals. One study found that high doses of vitamin E supplements could help alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms.