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In the News, Spring 2024: Balanced Diet May Lead to Better Brain Health
Our food choices may have a profound effect on our brain health, cognitive ability, and mental well-being, according to a study recently published in the journal Nature Mental Health. Researchers analyzed food-liking data and brain health indicators from 181,990 participants (mean age of 70.7 years) in the UK Biobank, and found that individuals with a balanced diet demonstrated better mental health and cognitive function than those belonging to three other dietary subtypes.
Participants were classified as belonging to one of four dietary subtypes: starch-free or low starch pattern, vegetarian pattern, high protein and low fiber pattern, and balanced pattern (a balanced mix of all the foods examined, with no excessive amounts in any category).
The people who preferred a balanced diet had better fluid intelligence (ability to solve novel problems), processing speed, memory, and executive functions, along with higher gray matter volumes and better structured neurons, than those in the other subtypes. They also had the lowest measures for mental health issues and the highest scores for overall well-being.
These findings indicate the potential significance of dietary choices among older adults and highlight the need for early-age dietary education emphasizing the importance of balanced diets to promote long-term brain health.
SOURCES:
Chaphalkar S. Balanced diet linked to better brain health and cognition, large-scale study shows. News Medical, April 3, 2024. news-medical.net/news/20240403/Balanced-diet-linked-to-better-brain-health-and-cognition-large-scale-study-shows.aspx.
Zhang R, Zhang B, Shen C, et al. Associations of dietary patterns with brain health from behavioral, neuroimaging, biochemical and genetic analyses. Nat. Mental Health (2024). doi: 10.1038/s44220-024-00226-0.
Published in the Journal of Health and Healing™
Spring 2024 | Volume 48, Number 1
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