Did You Know?: A healthy diet may be linked to lower Alzheimer's risk

In today's New York Times Science Times section, a small piece by Roni Caryn Rabin, in the Vital Signs column, reports that a new study (published online April 12 by the journal Archives of Neurology) has found that a diet "low in saturated fat and rich in nutrients like folate, vitamin E and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids" may be linked with a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease. In the study, older adults who ate diets rich in "fish, poultry, fruit, nuts, dark leafy greens, vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, and oil-and-vinegar dressing" showed a risk for Alzheimer's that was more than 1/3 lower than the risk for older adults who ate less of those nutritious foods and more "high-fat dairy products, butter, red meat and organ meat." While these findings still need to be further investigated, I think it's safe enough to add this potential benefit to our list of reasons why we should try to add more of these healthy foods to our diet.


Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In today's New York Times Science Times section, a small piece by Roni Caryn Rabin, in the Vital Signs column, reports that a new study (published online April 12 by the journal Archives of Neurology) has found that a diet "low in saturated fat and rich in nutrients like folate, vitamin E and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids" may be linked with a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease. In the study, older adults who ate diets rich in "fish, poultry, fruit, nuts, dark leafy greens, vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, and oil-and-vinegar dressing" showed a risk for Alzheimer's that was more than 1/3 lower than the risk for older adults who ate less of those nutritious foods and more "high-fat dairy products, butter, red meat and organ meat." While these findings still need to be further investigated, I think it's safe enough to add this potential benefit to our list of reasons why we should try to add more of these healthy foods to our diet.


Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Introducing: “Did You Know?”

This series highlights information related to nutrition, exercise & health that you may not be aware of. So without further ado…

Did you know that the Alzheimer’s Association has stated that strong evidence points to a link between heart health and brain health? “Your heart pumps about 20 percent of your blood to your brain, where billions of cells use about 20 percent of the blood’s oxygen and fuel. If your heart isn’t pumping well — or if your brain’s blood vessels are damaged — your brain cells have trouble getting all the food and oxygen they need.” This is just another reason to eat healthfully, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking & start exercising -- so get out there and walk, run, play…and choose the stairs over the elevator!

Alzheimer's Association website

This series highlights information related to nutrition, exercise & health that you may not be aware of. So without further ado…

Did you know that the Alzheimer’s Association has stated that strong evidence points to a link between heart health and brain health? “Your heart pumps about 20 percent of your blood to your brain, where billions of cells use about 20 percent of the blood’s oxygen and fuel. If your heart isn’t pumping well — or if your brain’s blood vessels are damaged — your brain cells have trouble getting all the food and oxygen they need.” This is just another reason to eat healthfully, maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking & start exercising -- so get out there and walk, run, play…and choose the stairs over the elevator!

Alzheimer's Association website