Diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia that cause cognitive decline are highly elusive, and multitudes of research into their pathology have not been able to isolate a cause or a cure. However, a recent study published in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association has drawn a direct correlation between a heart-healthy diet and a positive impact on cognitive health later in life.
The study shared that out of its participants, women who followed the DASH diet, or the ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,’ diet thoroughly in mid-life had 20% lower chances of developing two or more cognitive complications later in life.
Heart Healthy Diet Improves Cognitive Function
The study revealed that participants with higher DASH scores had a 24% lower chance of moderate cognitive complications and a 39% lower chance of severe complications compared to those with lower DASH scores. The participants of the study were followed for over 30 years, and this research began when the average age of the control group was 46, and almost all of the women were under 60 years of age. We followed them for over 30 years.
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The study also found that the DASH diet had a stronger effect on reducing the odds of having multiple cognitive complications in those without a history of cancer. It’s possible that cancer or its treatments could have masked the benefits of the DASH diet in women with a history of cancer, stated the researchers.
Benefits Of The DASH Diet
Mentioning how the DASH diet possibly aids cognitive health, the researchers listed:
- This diet is rich in essential nutrients found in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts, that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which might help reduce oxidative stress in the brain, promote the growth of new brain cells, and improve connections between neurons.
- This diet can lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cognitive decline.
- The DASH diet keeps the intake of red meat, processed foods, and sweets low, reducing the negative effects of high fat and sugar on brain inflammation and the production of amyloid beta protein, whose deposits are considered one cause behind dementia.
- The DASH diet might influence the balance of bacteria in your gut, and this, in turn, could affect cognitive function.
However, one limitation that must be considered while taking into account the findings of this study is that a family history of dementia or other neurodegenerative diseases wasn’t taken into account, so the findings may not apply equally to those with a family history of these conditions. On the flip side, we found that women who consumed more sweets had a 23% higher chance of experiencing multiple cognitive complaints especially poor verbal memory in later life. Hence, the study concluded that making lifestyle changes in mid-life might offer a chance to improve cognitive function in later life.
