Protects healthy diet before the cognitive decline?

Doctors tested the effects of different forms of nutrition and diet on cognitive health, to find out whether a special diet may protect against the emergence of a dementia.

The scientists from the Columbia University found in their recent study that proper nutrition appears to protect against the development of dementia. The experts published the results of their study in the English journal “Neurology”.

What forms of food to protect against cognitive decline?

The study included more than 2,600 male and female subjects aged 25 to 45 years. The diet of the Participants was assessed repeated at three time points by questionnaires, on the basis of which the average food intake for each Individual was determined. Were studied, for example, the effects of the Mediterranean diet and the so-called DASH diet. If people followed these two dietary patterns, were the subjects at the age of 55 years, improved cognitive health. One reason seems to be, the researchers suggest that the forms of food contain a lot of unsaturated fats, legumes, protein, fiber, and micro nutrients like thiamine, folic acid, Magnesium, zinc, iron and potassium.

What is included in our typical diet?

The typical Western diet is often rich in TRANS fats, saturated fats, highly processed foods and refined sugar and salt. In contrast, the diet in the Mediterranean style rich in whole grain products, nuts, fruits, vegetables and olive oil and low in processed meat, red meat, Trans – or saturated fats and refined sugar.

Mediterranean diet improves endurance

The Mediterranean diet seems to improve the health and protect against cardiovascular diseases. In a further small study of the St. Louis University, subjects taking a Mediterranean diet showed improved endurance performance compared to a conventional Western diet. The Participants were in the study, five kilometers on a treadmill, even after four days of the Mediterranean diet and again after four days with a typical Western diet. After four days of the Mediterranean diet, the movement speed of the subjects accelerated to six percent, even though the heart rate was in the two runs are comparable. The reason for this difference may lie in the fact that a Mediterranean diet alkaline cher, anti-inflammatory properties, nitrates contains and rich in antioxidants. The benefits of a Mediterranean diet lost quickly, as the subjects changed their diet back to a typical Western diet. According to the researchers, this highlights the importance of a long-term adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

What is the MIND-diet?

Another study examined the eating habits of Australians was looking for. This showed that a special diet with a reduction in the risk associated with a cognitive decline in later life. The so-called MIND-diet was developed by Professor Martha Morris in the United States. This Form of nutrition not only relates to the Mediterranean diet plan, but also a list of foods, one of which is already known is that they promote the health of the brain, such as, for example, antioxidant berries and green leafy vegetables. The study investigated whether in the case of 1,220 Australian adults from the age of 60 years have a cognitive impairment over a period of twelve years. To respondents at the beginning of the study, the scientists Participating to your diet. Subjects in the study were either at the Minimum diet or the Mediterranean diet. The subjects who took the MIND-diet, lowered the risk of cognitive decline or dementia by almost a fifth. The other group of subjects, which took a traditional Mediterranean diet, showed no such Benefits. (as)