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Previous studies have shown that a diet rich in fish, legumes, and vegetables can reduce the risk of potential dementia by 25 percent. Following such a dietary program between the ages of 48 and 70 notably enhances the activity of brain regions responsible for memory.
Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Oxford discovered that individuals aged 50 to 60 who maintain a healthy diet and have less fat around their waist experience improved memory and even develop more flexible thinking.
The researchers described their findings as “significant,” urging people to optimize their diets for better brain health.
They also warned, “The global shift towards unhealthy eating habits is linked to the rise of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, which are known risk factors for developing dementia.”
What Did the Scientists Discover?
During the study, the team examined the eating habits of 512 Britons over 11 years. They also assessed the waist-to-hip ratio of 664 individuals over a span of 21 years.
At various stages of the research, the scientists conducted MRI scans of the participants’ brains and cognitive ability tests. This allowed the team to track progress in the mental activities of the volunteers or, conversely, identify signs of declining cognitive abilities, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Participants who adhered to a “proper midlife diet” showed a significant improvement in the connection between the left hippocampus (a brain area crucial for processing information and memory) and the occipital lobe, located at the back of the brain and responsible for visual information processing. The researchers assert that dietary improvements were also linked to enhanced speech skills.
The findings of their study were published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
What Do Other Scientists Think About This?
Last year, researchers from Stanford University (USA) released results from their observations of a group of volunteers aged 44 to 60. Participants were encouraged to engage in more physical activity and adopt healthier eating habits to counteract the effects of “sharp waves” of aging.
The scientists published their findings in the journal Nature Aging. In the article, they emphasized that two health issues—high cholesterol and vision loss—are responsible for one in every ten cases of dementia. Moreover, half of all Alzheimer’s cases could be prevented by changing 14 lifestyle factors, with diet being the most crucial among them.
