Foods That Increase the Risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
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.
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.
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