Alzheimer's: Diet 'can stop brain shrinking'
07 Jan BBC
A diet rich in vitamins and fish may protect the brain from ageing
while junk food has the opposite effect, research suggests.
Elderly people with high blood levels of vitamins and omega 3 fatty
acids had less brain shrinkage and better mental performance, a
Neurology study found.
Trans fats found in fast foods were linked to lower scores in tests
and more shrinkage typical of Alzheimer's.
A UK medical charity has called for more work into diet and dementia
risk.
The best current advice is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of
fruit and vegetables, not smoke, take regular exercise and keep blood
pressure and cholesterol in check, said Alzheimer's Research UK.
The research looked at nutrients in blood, rather than relying on
questionnaires to assess a person's diet.
US experts analysed blood samples from 104 healthy people with an
average age of 87 who had few known risk factors for Alzheimer's.
They found those who had more vitamin B, C, D and E in their blood
performed better in tests of memory and thinking skills.
People with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids - found mainly in fish
- also had high scores. The poorest scores were found in people who had
more trans fats in their blood.
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