Currently, more than 64,000 people live with dementia in Ireland, and these numbers are expected to increase in the coming decades.
However, there are several ways you can reduce your chances of developing the disease in later years.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the highest adherence to a particular diet significantly reduced the risk of dementia by as much as 72%.
Studies show that following a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of dementia and other illnesses.
“Current evidence suggests that general nutrition, especially specific dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi), can be adopted as a potential preventive strategy for the development of dementia and cognitive decline.” The researcher is the journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Current evidence suggests that general nutrition, especially specific dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet (MeDi), can be adopted as a potential preventive strategy for the development of dementia and cognitive decline.
“But longitudinal data investigating the applicability of these findings in populations of Mediterranean origin are limited.
This study investigates the potential relationship between MeDi compliance with dementia incidence and cognitive changes in the traditional Mediterranean population, characterized by lifelong exposure to Mediterranean eating habits and lifestyles. Was aimed at.
The sample consisted of 1046 non-demented individuals aged 64 years and older with available baseline dietary information and long-term follow-up.
The diagnosis of dementia was made by a complete clinical and neuropsychological assessment, and cognitive ability was assessed according to five cognitive areas. Memory, language, attention speed, executive function, visuospatial perception and global cognitive score.
MeDi compliance was assessed by a pre-score (range 0-55) obtained from a detailed food intake frequency questionnaire.
The study found that a total of 62 cases of dementia occurred during an average of 3.1 years of follow-up.
Those who adhered best to MeDi had a 72% lower risk of developing dementia than those who had the lowest.
In addition, an analysis of cognitive ability as a function of the MeDi score revealed that the biennial cognitive benefit of a 10-unit increase in the MeDi score offsets the cognitive decline associated with cognitive aging during the year.
The researchers concluded that “in this study, higher adherence to MeDi was associated with a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive decline in the traditional Mediterranean population.”
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