The ‘brilliant diet’ reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s
Photo: Evgenia GUSEVA
Scientists at Virginia Tech School of Medicine have found natural nutrients that help support brain function, improve cognition, and reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
These are important dietary antioxidants of the so-called “brilliant diet” for brain health: carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids fill brightly colored plants like carrots and pumpkins. Especially a lot of lutein is found in cabbage and spinach, and zeaxanthin is found mostly in corn and orange peppers.
We studied the benefits and harms of brain nutrients in the Aging and Memory Research Project, which involved more than 1000 people, the study itself took 10 years. Overall, long-term follow-up showed that the MIND diet, based on antioxidant-rich fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish, with little meat and sweets, reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, increased cognition (memory, concentration, thinking ) and reduction of brain pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
What’s more, those who preferred plants with more carotenoids or lutein/zeaxanthin for ten years had a 50% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who were deficient in these substances.
“Recent advances in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease offer promising prospects for effectively slowing the progression of the disease,” said study co-author K. Kathleen Dory, a professor in the Department of Basic Education at the College of Medicine at the University of Virginia. – I would be delighted if our results encourage people to keep their brains in peak condition with a “brilliant diet” rich in carotenoids and regular exercise, which also has the potential to reduce the risk of developing dementia.
Among other basic rules for brain health, doctors call:
– enough sleep;
– solve crosswords, sudokus and puzzles;
– regular social communication;
– maintenance of vascular health (Mediterranean diet, reduction of salt intake and the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood).
