Belfast: A new study suggests that a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, nuts and seafood can reduce the risk of cognitive decline by about 25 percent.
In a study conducted in the United Kingdom, researchers examined 60,300 people over the age of 40, in which they were asked about the foods they ate during the day.
Their answers were then tested for similarity to the healthy Mediterranean diet eaten in countries such as Italy and Spain.
People who scored the highest on these foods were 23 percent less likely to have poor mental performance than those who ate the least amount of these foods.
Such foods are believed to reduce inflammation in the body and brain that is associated with dementia.
Study co-author Dr Claire McEvoy, from Queen’s University Belfast, said most people are unaware that a healthy diet and lifestyle can protect memory and cognitive ability as we age.
He said the research suggests that a higher intake of vegetables, fruit, fish and olive oil and a lower intake of processed foods, sugary foods and beef and mutton may help reduce the risk of dementia in the future.
