Healthy Eating During Midlife Prevents Brain Disease

(Relaxnews) - Eating properly during midlife can prevent later dementia, according to a new medical thesis published by the University of Eastern Finland. Results indicate that those who consistently ate healthy foods at age 50 on average had up to 90% less risk of developing dementia in a 14-year follow-up study compared with patients who did not eat healthy.

The researchers used a healthy dietary index based on eating a variety of foods. "Healthy" foods included vegetables, berries, and other fruits, fish, and unsaturated fats from dairy products and pastes. "Unhealthy" foods included sausages, eggs, salted fish, sugary drinks, desserts / sweets and saturated fat from dairy products and pastes.

Participants were between 39 and 64 years old, and 65 to 79 years old at baseline and follow-up, respectively. Of the 2, 000 participants who were involved in the initial study, 1, 449 completed follow-up.

Ingestion of a large amount of saturated fat was associated with decreased cognitive function and increased risk of dementia. Those on a saturated fat diet and carrying epsilon 4, the apolipoprotein-E (ApoE) gene variant, are also at risk. This gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

"Even those who are genetically susceptible can at least postpone the onset of disease by eating vegetable oils, oil-rich pastes and fatty fish in their diets, " says medical thesis author Margo Eskelinen, a master of science. The thesis was based on a study of the Finnish population called Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Incidence of Dementia (Caide).

The Alzheimer's Association recommends the progressive intake of “protective foods” to maintain a healthy brain. They are: dark fruits and vegetables such as plum, grape, red grape, red plum, blueberry, cherry, broccoli, spinach, collard greens, onions, peppers, beets and eggplants. Chestnuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans are also recommended, as well as cold-water fish such as trout, salmon, tuna, mackerel and halibut. Increasing the intake of vitamins C, E, folic acid and B12 is also considered important.

The study results were published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, and the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Via InAbstract