Foods That Increase the Risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
The more studies are conducted on the
connection between diet and dementia, the more apparent the link between
an unhealthy diet and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia
becomes. While previous studies mainly focused on healthy foods capable
of decreasing the risk of said conditions, such as foods high in
antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, like apples and spinach, as well
as foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like nuts and fatty fish, a recent
investigation also pointed out that certain combinations of foods have
been actually correlated with a higher risk of dementia.
Let’s examine the findings of the study and
learn how to tweak your diet to enhance your chances of preventing the
dangerous neurodegenerative disease.
Diet Can Have a Long-Term Effect on Brain Health in Senior Years
The study in focus was published in April
2020, in the journal Neurology, and it examined the diets of 209 French
dementia patients over the course of 12 years, along with 418 control
subjects of roughly the same sex, education, and age range - an average
of 78 years. The authors of the study checked in with the participants
and controls every 2-3 years, recording their health and dietary habits
via a questionnaire.
The researchers mentioned that most of the subjects they examined had a
typical French diet characteristic of the Bordeaux region, with an
additional focus on snacks and processed meats apparent throughout their
life, whereas the control subjects typically drifted away from the
traditional Bordeaux diet in favor of healthier food choices,
particularly plant-based foods.
Although the study only examined the diets
of people aged 65 and older, the researchers are confident that poor
diet choices were likely part of the participants’ nutrition habits for
years before. “We know that diet over time, starting in midlife and
probably even before, likely influences the risk of brain diseases later
in life,” stated the head author of the study Cecilia Samieri, Ph.D.,
in an interview with Healthline.
In addition, the authors of the study pointed out that the inclusion of
healthy food choices was just as important, if not superior, at
preventing dementia as the exclusion of unhealthy food choices.
Food Combinations Capable of Increasing the Risk of Dementia
Although processed meats have been a
consistent feature in the diets of participants with dementia, there
were also a few other food varieties, which the authors claim can
increase the risk of dementia when combined. Mind you that processed
meats, such as sausages, bacon, salami, etc., have been also recently
added to the list of carcinogens capable of causing bowel cancer, so
eating as little of those as possible will have a multitude of health
benefits.
Processed meats combined with starchy foods, such as potatoes, as well
as alcohol and sweet snack foods like cookies and cake is what can
contribute to the development of dementia, the authors suggest. So,
apart from processed meats, minimizing the amount of starchy foods and
sugary snacks and drinks one consumes should be a priority in order to
lower one’s risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
To reduced one’s risk even further, it
would be beneficial to replace those unhealthy snacks and side dishes
with nutrient-dense alternatives, such as nuts, dark chocolate, and
fruit as a healthy snack, or legumes, vegetables, and whole grains
instead of starchy foods. The more diverse and rich in both plant-based
foods and sources of protein other than processed foods your diet is,
the better.
Best of all, the dietary suggestions of the given study are in line with
a diet that will also combat other common health concerns and not only
dementia and Alzheimer’s. Following these simple and general guidelines
will also decrease one’s risk of heart disease, lower the level of
chronic inflammation in the body, and even help prevent the development
of cancer.