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As you get older, your risk of developingdementianaturally increases.
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Watching what youdrinkandeatcan play an important role in yourbrain functions.
And, may help decrease your dementia risk.
Deciphering which foods are good or bad for your brain health might sound challenging.
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However, a new studyAmerican Academy of Neurologystudy is making it easier to pinpoint exactly what those foods are.
The study involved 72,083 participants 55 years old and up.
Participants did not have dementia at the start of the study.
The study followed the participants for about 10 years.
They also had to fill out at least two questionnaires about what they ate and drank the previous day.
By the end of the study, 518 people had been diagnosed with dementia.
Researchers in the study determined how muchultra-processed foodthe participants ate based on food intake questionnaires.
They calculated this as a percentage of the total amount of food consumed per day.
The researchers took into consideration factors that could affect the risk of dementia.
These included age, gender, family history of dementia and heart disease, and others.
Furthermore, the study shows an association between ultra-processed foods and the risk of dementia.
Lower risk of dementia was associated with replacing ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet withunprocessedor minimally processed foods.
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Shapiro further suggests that processed foods might taste great.
However, they are often full of sugar,sodium, unhealthy fats, preservatives, and other chemicals.
These ingredients do not promote optimal health and wellness.
Likeveggie burgers, healthy chips, cereals, etc.”
However, we need more research, according to Shapiro.
“Providing this information is important,” says Shapiro.
