8 Everyday Eating Habits That Reduce Dementia Risk (P)
These studies reveal some of the diets, foods and nutrients that protect the brain from dementia — and those that damage it.
Category: Nutrition
The Vitamin That Helps Prevent Depression (M)
Increased intake of this vitamin is particularly important for reducing depression risk.
This Nutrient Deficiency Is Shared Across Anxiety Disorders (M)
The anxious brain burns through this key nutrient faster than it can be replenished.
One Of The Best Ways To Deal With Food Cravings (M)
Dieters are particularly susceptible to food cravings.
This Fat-Burning Diet Decreases Depression Symptoms By 69% (M)
Most people in the study improved more from this diet than is usual for even counselling and medication.
2 Common Diets That Reduce Neurotoxins & Preserve Memory (M)
Two weeks on these diets reshapes both liver fat and brain metabolites to help protect cognitive function.
The Foods That Affect Brain Health And Memory In Only 4 Days (M)
Even a short burst of eating these foods can scramble memory circuits deep in the brain.
A Mental Sign Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially in the elderly.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially in the elderly.
Problems with thinking and memory can be signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Low levels of vitamin B12, along with other vital nutrients, are linked to brain shrinkage.
Deficiencies in these critical micronutrients may also be important in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Research has looked at nutrients in the ‘Mediterranean diet’, which is linked to better brain aging.
It found that people had better cognitive functioning when they had higher levels of important nutrients, including vitamin B12, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, folate and others.
The study included 116 seniors who were given tests of their IQ, memory and thinking skills.
Scans also assessed the efficiency of their brains.
Professor Aron Barbey, study co-author, said:
“Efficiency has to do with how information is communicated within the network.
We looked at ‘local efficiency’ – how well information is shared within a spatially confined set of brain regions – and also ‘global efficiency,’ which reflects how many steps are required to transfer information from any one region to any other region in the network.
If your network is more efficiently configured, then it should be easier, on average, to access relevant information and the task should take you less time.”
The results showed that people performed better in the tests if their blood was higher in levels of these nutrients:
- omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids,
- carotenoids,
- lycopene,
- riboflavin,
- folate,
- vitamin B12
- and vitamin D.
Professor Barbey explained the results:
“Our study suggests that diet and nutrition moderate the association between network efficiency and cognitive performance.
This means that the strength of the association between functional brain network efficiency and cognitive performance is associated with the level of the nutrients.”
Other potential signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include feeling tired, experiencing muscle weakness and being constipated.
Good sources of vitamin B12 include fish, poultry, eggs and low-fat milk.
Fortified breakfast cereals also contain vitamin B12.
The study was published in the journal Neuroimage (Zwilling et al., 2019).
One Cup Of This Popular Drink Linked To Living Longer (M)
Drinking even one cup a day of this beverage may help you to live longer.
Why This Food Addiction Is Affecting Millions Over 50 (M)
Why middle-aged adults — particularly women — are more addicted to these foods than previous generations.
