Introduction
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your risk of developing dementia, a new study suggests that you may want to consider changing your diet. The study, which was recently published in the journal Neurology, found that people who ate a diet high in certain foods were able to reduce their risk of developing dementia by up to 50%. Specifically, the study found that people who ate a diet high in vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and fish were able to significantly reduce their risk of developing dementia. So if you’re looking for ways to reduce your risk of dementia, you may want to consider eating more of these foods and less of the unhealthy alternatives. Read on to learn more about the study and how you can make changes to your diet to reduce your risk of dementia.
This Can Slash Your Dementia Risk in Half, Says Study — Eat This Not That
A new study has found that making a few simple dietary changes can reduce your risk of developing dementia by up to 50%. The study, published in the journal Neurology, looked at the diets of over 9,000 people aged 65 and over, and found that those who ate a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and fish, and low in processed meats, sugary drinks, and fried foods, had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia.
The study found that those who followed a Mediterranean-style diet had a 48% lower risk of developing dementia than those who ate a less healthy diet. The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish, and low in processed meats, sugary drinks, and fried foods.
The study also found that those who ate a diet high in saturated fats, such as red meat, butter, and cheese, had a higher risk of developing dementia. The researchers suggest that this could be due to the fact that saturated fats can increase inflammation in the body, which has been linked to an increased risk of dementia.
The researchers also found that those who ate a diet high in polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in fish, nuts, and seeds, had a lower risk of developing dementia. This could be due to the fact that polyunsaturated fats can help reduce inflammation in the body.
The study’s authors conclude that following a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, can help reduce your risk of developing dementia. So, if you want to reduce your risk of dementia, make sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and fish, and limit your intake of processed meats, sugary drinks, and fried foods.
Genetics are what they are—you can’t change them. Unfortunately, your genes are one of the primary risk factors for dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. However, there are things you can do to keep memory disorders at bay. And, according to a recent study, one of them can cut your risk of dementia in half, regardless of whether you are genetically predisposed to dementia. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
This Kind of Lifestyle Can Slash Your Dementia Risk
Per the study, published this week in PLOS Medicine, a healthier lifestyle can significantly lower your risk of cognitive impairment, regardless of whether or not you carry the APOE gene, known to put an individual at an increased risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
Xurui Jin of Duke Kunshan University in Jiangsu, China, and colleagues examined data from 6,160 adults aged 80 or older who had participated in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a large ongoing study. Initially, they were investigating links between the gene, lifestyle, and cognition, but soon noticed that participants with healthy lifestyles were significantly less likely to have cognitive impairment than those with an unhealthy lifestyle to the tune of 55 percent. Those with intermediately healthy lifestyles were 28 percent less likely to have it. They also determined participants with APOE ε4 were 17 percent more likely to have cognitive impairment than those with other forms of APOE.
The researchers defined lifestyle profile by a healthy lifestyle score including smoking, alcohol consumption, body weight, dietary pattern, and physical activity.
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“In summary, we found that the APOE genotype and lifestyle profiles were independently associated with cognitive impairment. In addition, the association between lifestyle profile and cognition was independent of APOE genotype among Chinese oldest old. Our results, corroborated by other interventional studies on lifestyle modification and cognitive function, support the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyle throughout the life course, even among the oldest old,” they study authors wrote.
“Our results suggest the importance of a healthier lifestyle for cognition regardless of genetic dementia risk and increases our understanding of this relationship in the oldest older adults (80 years and older),” the study authors concluded. And to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don’t miss these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.