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A recent study revealed that adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, which includes whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and reducing consumption of red and processed meats as well as ultra-processed foods like sodas, sugary cereals, fries, and ice cream, can decrease the risk of dementia by 31%. Learning to differentiate between foods that cause inflammation and those that combat it could help lower the likelihood of the onset of dementia.
Adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet was linked to a reduced dementia risk, even in individuals with cardiometabolic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or a history of strokes. The research indicated that people with these conditions could lower their likelihood of developing dementia by focusing their diet on anti-inflammatory foods.
Dementia results from damage to brain cells, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most prevalent form. It appears through various symptoms, such as a significant decline in memory that disrupts daily activities. The connection between dietary habits and the risk of developing dementia is well-documented. Individuals with cardiometabolic diseases typically experience higher levels of inflammation, suggesting that adopting an anti-inflammatory diet could be a beneficial strategy.
The recent study examined the eating habits of more than 84,000 adults over 60 years old, free from dementia but diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. These participants, all part of the UK Biobank, reported their intake of 206 food items and 32 beverages categorized by their inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, on five separate occasions. Over the following 15 years, medical records were reviewed to identify any correlations between the consumption levels of inflammatory foods and new dementia diagnoses.
The precise biological mechanisms by which foods influence inflammatory pathways remain unclear. Researchers theorize that the Western diet's heavy reliance on sugary, ultra-processed foods and abundant saturated fats, combined with exposure to pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, pesticides and plastics, could trigger heightened activation of free radicals in the body.
The research identified a link between reduced systemic inflammation and improved brain markers on MRIs among those with less risk of dementia. The scans revealed that individuals with cardiometabolic diseases who consumed the highest amounts of anti-inflammatory foods had greater volumes of gray matter. This suggests less neurodegeneration. Additionally, they exhibited lower white matter intensities, which indicate less vascular injury in the brain.
Although further research is necessary, adopting a higher quality diet seems to provide some brain protection, mitigating and postponing both functional and structural signs of deterioration, even among those dealing with chronic cardiometabolic conditions.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Dementia in Older Adults With Cardiometabolic Diseases
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