Eating omega-3-rich foods, such as fish, rather than saturated fat, dairy and meat could help to preserve memory and maintain the ability to think, it has been claimed.
In the largest study to date, USA-based neurologists used dietary information from 17,478 African-American and Caucasian people enrolled in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.
Researchers examined how closely they adhered to a Mediterranean diet and asked participants to undertake tests that measured memory and thinking abilities over an average of four years.
Writing in Neurology, Dr Georgios Tsivgoulis, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, and the University of Athens, Greece, said while food rich in omega-3 may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities, there was no such link in people with diabetes.
“Since there are no definitive treatments for most dementing illnesses, modifiable activities, such as diet, that may delay the onset of symptoms of dementia are very important,” he explained.
Out of all the participants, 17% had diabetes and 7% experienced deterioration in their thinking and memory skills during the study.
Among the healthy cohort, those who followed the Mediterranean diet more closely were 19% less likely to develop problems with their thinking and memory skills. There was not a significant difference in declines between African-Americans and Caucasians.
“Diet is an important modifiable activity that could help in preserving cognitive functioning in late life,” said Dr Tsivgoulis. “However, it is only one of several important lifestyle activities that might play a role in late-life mental functioning. Exercise, avoiding obesity, not smoking cigarettes and taking medications for conditions like diabetes and hypertension are also important.”
Neurology 29 April 2013
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