Diet and brain health: can eating well reduce mental decline?
Quick answer
Eating well may help lower the risk of mental decline. In a study published in Neurology that followed 27,860 people aged 55 or older, those eating the most nutritious diets were 24 per cent less likely to have a decline in thinking and memory than those eating the least healthy foods.
Eating the right foods can reduce mental decline
An international team of researchers found that seniors who consumed the most nutritious food had a nearly 25 percent reduction in the risk of mental decline compared those with poor diets, according to the study published in Neurology.
The researchers followed 27,860 people aged 55 or older from 40 different countries for an average of about five years. Participants were asked at the start of the study how often they ate certain kinds of foods, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts and soy proteins, whole grains, deep-fried foods and alcohol.
Memory and thinking ability were also tested at the beginning of the study, and then again at two years and at the end of the study.
Over the course of the study period, 4,699 people suffered a decline in thinking and memory.
Those consuming the most nutritious diets were 24 percent less likely to have cognitive declines compared to people consuming the least healthy foods. So we know that diet is very important to maintaining brain health.
The new study “adds to the data that pretty undeniably show that our habits can shape how well or not well our brains age,” says Jason Karlawish, a professor of medicine and medical ethics and health policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “We know that physical exercise can help preserve brain health. We can add that diet also influences the health of the brain.”
Eating well reduces cellular inflammation and keeps the brain healthy
Our experience in clinic very much supports the findings above. We do see diet playing a critical role in the healing process.
Common questions
Can your diet affect your memory as you get older?
It may. In a Neurology study of people aged 55 or older, those with the most nutritious diets were 24 per cent less likely to experience a decline in thinking and memory than those with the least healthy diets. Professor Jason Karlawish says diet also influences brain health.
What foods were looked at in the study on diet and mental decline?
Participants reported how often they ate fruits and vegetables, nuts and soy proteins, whole grains, deep-fried foods and alcohol. The study followed 27,860 people from 40 countries for about five years, testing memory and thinking at the start, at two years and at the end.
Does eating well reduce inflammation in the brain?
We believe eating well may reduce cellular inflammation and help keep the brain healthy. Our experience in clinic supports the study findings, and we see diet playing a critical role in the healing process.
This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for personal medical advice. Please speak to your GP (family doctor) or a qualified practitioner before making changes to medication or treatment.