Large Text

Age-related dementias including Alzheimer’s disease have gotten a lot of attention in recent years. Many people wonder if their memory and other brain related functions will fade as they age.

Researchers are studying ways to improve mental function and delay the normal loss of memory and other higher cognitive functions. An article that addressed this topic recently was published in the Journal Neurology. The article examined diet and the preservation of cognitive function.

The Literature Report
Martha Clare Morris, chief of Rush University Medical Center's Rush Center for Healthy Aging,  and coworkers conducted a research study of 3,718 participants, 65 years and older of the Chicago Health and Aging Project. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire and were administered at least two of three cognitive assessments at baseline, three-year and six-year follow-ups. This is a method to determine mental function over time. The findings were important and significant.

The rate of decline in the group that consumed approximately four servings of vegetables per day compared with those who consumed less than one experienced a 38 percent decrease in decline rates. In other words, the more vegetables consumed, the less the decline in mental function. The association remained significant when other factors including gender and exercise were included in the analysis. 

Fruit consumption was not associated with cognitive change. This fact is at variance with animal studies and some other human ones, which is probably a result of the low number of people in the study. In other words, not enough people were included in the study to look at the effect of fruit and berry consumption. It was easier to study the effect of vegetable consumption because more people consumed vegetables than fruits and berries. If you eat fruits and berries because of the proven benefit in a number of areas including cancer, my advice is to continue eating them. And, of course, vegetables should be included in your diet.

Importance of the Study
This study offers at least two important conclusions. First and foremost, load up on vegetables every day. Vegetables probably should be mostly cooked to receive full benefit. The second important message is that this dietary benefit is for people older than 65 years; it is never too late to impact the effects of aging with diet. Eat two or more vegetable servings per day, regardless of your age, to help preserve your mental function.

Additional Online Resources Outside MUSCHealth.com:
(MedlinePlus, is an excellent source of health information from the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Health professionals and consumers alike can depend on it for information that is authoritative and up to date. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 650 diseases and conditions.)

 Back to Top

disclaimer