New diet boost for brain
Thursday December 29th, 2011
A diet rich in healthy nutrients may help preserve the brain, researchers reported last night.
Plenty
of fish and vitamins D, B, C and E may all help - while an unhealthy diet
based on "junk food" may have the opposite effect, according
to the latest research.
The findings come from a detailed study of some 104 elderly people - average age 87.
Researchers analysed blood samples to measure the levels of nutrients in the system - and also conducted brain scans to measure shrinkage of the brain.
Reporting in the journal Neurology, the researchers say that levels of healthy and unhealthy nutrients were responsible for about 37 per cent of differences in brain sizes. They were also responsible for about 17 per cent of differences in memory and thinking scores.
Researcher Maret Traber, of the Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, USA, said: "These findings are based on average people eating average American diets.
"If anyone right now is considering a New Year's resolution to improve their diet, this would certainly give them another reason to eat more fruits and vegetables."
He added: "The vitamins and nutrients you get from eating a wide range of fruits, vegetables and fish can be measured in blood biomarkers. I'm a firm believer these nutrients have strong potential to protect your brain and make it work better."
Neurology December 28 2011
Tags: Brain & Neurology | Diet & Food | Elderly Health
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