A study recently published in the journal, Neurology, followed almost 28000 people from across 40 countries, who were over 55 and at high risk of heart disease (but without any chronic diseases). Their diets were monitored for 5 years and their memory and thinking skills were measured at the beginning of the study and again afterwards. They found that a decline in mental agility was related to diet, with those following healthier diets experiencing better thinking and memory skills. This study adds weight to other studies showing a positive link between healthful diets and cognitive function, particularly due to its size and methodology.
The healthy diet was considered to be one that included:
- Little red meat
- Moderate intake of alcohol
- Rich in fruits and vegetables
- Regular consumption of both nuts and fish.
Seb is a writer and blogger of food and nutrition. He holds a bachelors and a masters degree in nutrition science, and has studied sports and exercise nutrition at postgraduate level. He specialises in plant-based nutrition and believes passionately that we can all live with a little less meat.
