Lifetime diet impacts long-term risk of developing dementia, according to a seven-decade research study.
*Who Needs That Mental Sharpness? Even Me!
Sometimes, I forget simple things, like why I went into the kitchen or a new acquaintance's name. And it's a major worry because the older I get, the more I fret about losing my sharpness. Now, researchers warn memory issues like these can be serious!
I try to stay sharp already - I watch my diet, exercise, and solve crosswords. But I wonder if my lackadaisical lifestyle in my youth will come back to bite me.
It seems it already has...
Tasty Superfruits for a Healthy Brain
Gobble down a mix of organic, fermented anthocyanin-rich fruits including Aronia, Acai, Blueberry, Pomegranate, and Plum. This blend can help combat insulin resistance and keep your brain functioning. *GET THE BERRIES![www.PeakNatural.com]*
"PAID AD"
When's the Right Time to Eat Right?
Your cognitive abilities can keep improving until middle age, but they start to decline after 65. Plus, more severe problems like dementia can arise alongside these normal aging declines.
But what's fascinating is that diet can drastically impact whether your brain stays in excellent shape or slips toward cognitive decline. And this is clearer than a crystal ball...
Researchers looked at 3,059 U.K. adults over 75 years, tracking their dietary habits and cognitive abilities. Most previous studies focused on older adults, but this one was unique in its focus on participants throughout their lives.
The researchers found that the quality of one's diet closely correlates with trends in overall cognitive ability. For instance, only 8 percent of people with low-quality diets sustained high cognitive ability over time, while only 7 percent of people with high-quality diets sustained low cognitive ability comparing their peers.
The Longer You Eat Healthy, the Better Your Brain Works
Most individuals saw steady improvements in dietary quality throughout adulthood. Interestingly, slight differences in diet quality in childhood seemed to set the tone for dietary patterns later in life - for better or worse.
"This indicates that early life dietary intakes may affect our dietary choices later in life, and the cumulative effects of diet over time are linked with the progression of our overall cognitive abilities," states Dr. Kelly Cara, a recent graduate of the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
"Our findings suggest that improvements to dietary patterns up to midlife may influence cognitive performance and help lessen cognitive decline in later years."
Keeping that Blood Flowing!
Poor circulation can lead to all sorts of issues like headaches, swelling, and potentially more severe concerns. The red flags for a circulation problem are... *GET THE ANSWERS![www.PeakNatural.com]*
"PAID AD"
In the study, individuals in the highest cognitive group at ages 68-70 showed significantly higher retention of working memory, processing speed, and overall cognitive performance compared to those in the lowest cognitive group. To top it off, almost one-quarter of participants in the lowest cognitive group showed signs of dementia by age 68-70, while none of those in the highest cognitive group showed signs of dementia at this point.
Those with the highest cognitive abilities over time tended to eat more foods suggested by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and fewer sodium, added sugars, and refined grains.
"Dietary patterns that are high in whole or less processed plant-food groups, including leafy green vegetables, beans, whole fruits, and whole grains, may be most protective," Cara says.
Editor's note: Don't let blood clots sneak up on you! Discover the 25-cent vitamin, the natural blood thinner, and the powerful herb that helps clear plaque to extend dementia-free longevity. To learn more about these and other secrets of long-lived hearts, *wrinkle your nose at some Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments*!**
Source:
Want to stay mentally sharp for life? Eat a healthy diet now - EurekAlert!
- The quality of one's diet closely correlates with trends in overall cognitive ability, suggesting that improvements to dietary patterns up to midlife may influence cognitive performance and help lessen cognitive decline in later years.
- Researchers suggest that the cumulative effects of diet over time are linked with the progression of overall cognitive abilities, indicating that early life dietary intakes may affect our dietary choices later in life.
- In the study, individuals in the highest cognitive group at ages 68-70 showed significantly higher retention of working memory, processing speed, and overall cognitive performance compared to those in the lowest cognitive group, with almost one-quarter of participants in the lowest cognitive group showing signs of dementia by age 68-70, while none of those in the highest cognitive group showed signs of dementia at this point.
- Dietary patterns that are high in whole or less processed plant-food groups, including leafy green vegetables, beans, whole fruits, and whole grains, may be most protective for brain health.
