Fighting Memory Loss

There is new research that suggests that a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, fish, whole grains, along with daily servings of nuts and olive oil can help fight off age related cognitive abilities decline. The research seems to conclude that we can take steps to prevent cognitive decline and memory loss. A recent medical study compared the brain health of groups of older people in Spain (in their 60s and 70s). As part of the study, researchers gave the participants a series of cognitive tests to measure aspects of brain health, from working memory to processing speed to executive function. Four years later the cognitive tests were repeated. One  of the groups had been assigned to eat a Mediterranean diet, plus either extra daily servings of extra-virgin olive oil (about four tablespoons) or daily servings of nuts. The other  control group was assigned to eat a low fat diet.

What researchers found was that the people eating the lower-fat diet (the control group) did worse on their cognitive tests. But the participants in the Mediterranean diet, showed no measurable age-related decline or improvement. There was no change either direction, better or worse. The subjects therefore had no change in their cognitive and memory  compared to those with the low fat diet which did display some decline.

The key finding of the study is that the Mediterranean diet is preventing  mental decline. The study suggests that there can be benefits to making diet changes to maintain a healthy brain even for people in their 60s, 70s or older. This study backs up an original research finding from the PREDIMED study, on the  long-term nutritional effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in seven communities in Spain. It has been reported  that in 2013 study the Mediterranean diet cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes by about 30 percent.

Both studies help to prove that eating a heart-healthy diet can also protect the brain. The heart and brain are seemingly linked , as far as health is concerned. There is also the possibility that the people on the Mediterranean diet are also changing some other aspect of their lives, such as walking more or smoking less, factors that influence cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood glucose regulation. However, the weight of the evidence points the fact that what is good for the heart is good for the brain.

While the studies are very encouraging they do not prove to be conclusive. One key factor is that so far these studies did not last long enough to track the rates of dementia among .the study participants. While even if the Mediterranean diet may help to maintain memory and cognitive abilities, the jury is still out if this will result in the prevention of  or lower rate of Alzheimer’s down the road.

Paul Katsus, this article author, has worked as an electric utility service consultant for a Houston, Texas electric utility company, CenterPoint Energy. Paul Katsus enjoys passing on information of general interest.