A recent study found that eating well doesn’t lower the risk of dementia. The most recent study contradicts other studies that suggested a healthy eating plan, like the Mediterranean diet, could reduce the likelihood of cognitive impairment.
People who eat a Mediterranean-style diet consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, fish, and good fats. Additionally, these dieters abstain from meat, dairy, and saturated fats.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent kind of dementia, though there are other types as well. Memory loss, confusion, communication and comprehension issues, and even behavioral problems, are all possible effects. As people get older, these symptoms frequently worsen.
Over a 20-year period, the researchers monitored 28,000 participants with an average age of 58. Prior to the trial, none of the subjects had dementia. Participants completed a seven-day meal diary, a thorough food frequency questionnaire, and an interview during this time.
1,943 individuals (6.9%) had dementia diagnoses by the study’s conclusion, including those for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. The degree to which each person’s diet resembled a Mediterranean diet was investigated in the study, which was written up in the journal Neurology.
The analysis of the data revealed that there was no correlation between a patient’s diet and a lower risk of dementia. However, further research is required because there is a chance that people would describe their diet incorrectly.
“Previous studies on the effects of diet on dementia risk have had mixed results,” says study author Isabelle Glans, MD, of Lund University in a media release. “While our study does not rule out a possible association between diet and dementia, we did not find a link in our study, which had a long follow-up period, included younger participants than some other studies and did not require people to remember what foods they had eaten regularly years before.”
“Diet may not have a significant impact on memory and thinking on its own, but it is certainly one of many factors that affect cognitive function over time. Dietary interventions may still be necessary in addition to other risk factor management tactics, says Nils Peters, MD, from the University of Basel in Switzerland, who also submitted an editorial that was published with the study.
With more than 38,000 members, the American Academy of Neurology is the biggest organization of neurologists and other professionals in the field of neurology. It is committed to advancing the best possible treatment for individuals with brain and nervous system illnesses. These include epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, concussion, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
Association Between Dietary Habits in Midlife With Dementia Incidence Over a 20-Year Perio
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