Everyone fears ageing and turning old, and worst of all, being susceptible to age-related cognitive decline, as well as conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's.?
However, now a novel study reveals that you might have better chances of surviving this if you consumed cheese, lamb and wine regularly.?
This is according to a study by food scientist Auriel Willette of Iowa State University and colleagues who analysed diets and cognitive abilities of 1,787 individuals aged between 46-47 years old, over a period of ten years.?
The data was collected through UK Biobank -- a large-scale biomedical database consisting of detailed genetic and health information of millions of participants. Each participant was asked to note down their dietary intake in detail with respect to kinds of foods including fruits, meat, cheeses, drinks etc.
Researchers also asked participants to complete a Fluid Intelligence Test -- an assessment that shows promptness in one's ability to think -- thrice between the year 2006 and 2016.?
Researchers discovered that of all the foods consumed, consumption of cheese showed the strongest association with resistance to age-related decline -- even in participants in the later year of their lives.?
They also found that regular consumption of wine and a weekly meal of lamb, but no other red meats, improved long-term cognitive prowess. On the other hand, the worst thing to consume was high levels of salt.
Dr Willette said, ¡°I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that responsibly eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic. 'But perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world that never seems to slow down.¡±
Willette added, ¡°While we took into account whether this was just due to what well-off people eat and drink, randomised clinical trials are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways.¡±
Paper author and neuroscientist Brandon Klinedinst, also of Iowa State explained, 'Depending on the genetic factors you carry, some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimer's, while others seem to be at greater risk. That said, I believe the right food choices can prevent the disease and cognitive decline altogether.¡±
¡°Perhaps the silver bullet we're looking for is upgrading how we eat. Knowing what that entails contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer's and putting this disease in a reverse trajectory,¡± he concluded.