Do you want a clearer spirit in your gold years? Start by cutting your waist.
A new study found this diet quality and Size / hip ratio In the forties, are directly linked to brain health and cognitive function as we get older.
“This message is alarming in the light of the obesity pandemic.” Dr Sharmili Edwin ThanarajahA neurologist at Goethe Frankfurt University who was not involved in the study, wrote in a Support editorial.
Changes in the Western regime have played a major role in driving America’s obesity crisiswhich is linked to chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. It is also the Main modifiable risk factor for dementia.
More than six million Americans are currently living with the disease in memory, a figure should reach 12 million by 2060 without intervention. Experts say that these projections highlight the urgent need to prevent or slow down the start of dementia – starting with lifestyle changes as a healthier diet and regular exercise.
Previous studies have suggested that quarantine is a critical window for cognitive health interventions, but there was little to know how long -term adhesion for a high -quality diet affects brain health as we get older.
To study the potential link, the researchers used data Whitehall II studyA 30 -year longitudinal study following more than 10,000 participants. They watched the size and hip measurements of 664 British middle age officials over a period of 21 years.
At the same time, 512 participants filled detailed diet questionnaires covering 11 factors, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fats and sugary drinks.
When participants reached 70 years old, scientists took brain scanners and tested their cognitive performance. They found that those who have a hip radio in the lower hip at the start of the study had better working memory, executive function and global cognitive performance later.
Participants who have stuck to healthier food diets in the forties also showed better brain function, especially in the regions responsible for learning, memory and how different parts of the brain communicate with each other.
But don’t panic if you haven’t eaten well. The researchers found that participants who improved their food during the study experienced improvements in their brain health – in particular with regard to dementia and aging.
“If you want to do something for the health of the brain, it is not too late to do something now, but the earlier you start, the better it is”, Dr Daria Ea JensenA postdoctoral study author at the University of Oxford, Tell BBC Science Focus.
Researchers have said that interventions to improve diet and manage central obesity could be the most effective for people aged 48 to 70, leading to the best results for brain health and cognitive health in recent years.
“Their results are calling for increased prevention strategies during the quarantine to combat the growing number of individuals with cognitive disabilities,” said Edwin Thanarajah.
She pointed out that improvements in the quality of the diet – rather than simply reducing the size / hip ratio – were linked to better brain health later in life. She too cited research Showing that even a brief exposure to an unhealthy, rich fat and sugar diet can negatively affect brain function in healthy individuals.
“It is crucial to integrate food directives in public health policies,” said Edwin Thanarajah. “Such integration should be an independent and essential strategy to protect brain health, in parallel with the evaluation of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors.”
Jensen and his team noted certain limitations of the study, including the fact that the participants were mainly white British men, very educated and generally healthier than the broader British population.