London, Oct 21 (PTI) Here's yet another reason why you should go for a low-calorie diet -- high-protein meals can shrink your brain and cause Alzheimer's, says a new study.

An international team has carried out the study and found that a high protein diet can led to a smaller brain and may trigger the onset of dementia, the latest edition of the 'Molecular Neurodegeneration' journal reported.

Researchers have based their findings on an analysis of mice which were specially bred to develop Alzheimer's. They were fed either a regular diet, a high fat-low carb diet, a high protein-low carb version or a high carb-low fat option.

The researchers then looked at the brain and body weight of the mice, as well as plaque build up associated with Alzheimer's. They were surprised by the smaller brains of those given the high protein-low carb diet.