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2011-12-29 10:02:48
By Helen Briggs Health editor, BBC News website
A diet rich in vitamins and fish may protect the brain from ageing while junk
food has the opposite effect, research suggests.
Elderly people with high blood levels of vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids had
less brain shrinkage and better mental performance, a Neurology study found.
Trans fats found in fast foods were linked to lower scores in tests and more
shrinkage typical of Alzheimer's.
A UK medical charity has called for more work into diet and dementia risk.
The best current advice is to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and
vegetables, not smoke, take regular exercise and keep blood pressure and
cholesterol in check, said Alzheimer's Research UK.
Start Quote
There is a clear need for conclusive evidence about the effect of diet on our
risk of Alzheimer's, which can only come from large-scale, long-term studies
Dr Simon Ridley Alzheimer's Research UK
The research looked at nutrients in blood, rather than relying on
questionnaires to assess a person's diet.
US experts analysed blood samples from 104 healthy people with an average age
of 87 who had few known risk factors for Alzheimer's.
They found those who had more vitamin B, C, D and E in their blood performed
better in tests of memory and thinking skills. People with high levels of omega
3 fatty acids - found mainly in fish - also had high scores. The poorest scores
were found in people who had more trans fats in their blood.
Trans fats are common in processed foods, including cakes, biscuits and fried
foods.
The researchers, from Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Portland
VA Medical Center; and Oregon State University, Corvallis, then carried out
brain scans on 42 of the participants.
They found individuals with high levels of vitamins and omega 3 in their blood
were more likely to have a large brain volume; while those with high levels of
trans fat had a smaller total brain volume.
Study author Gene Bowman of Oregon Health and Science University said: "These
results need to be confirmed, but obviously it is very exciting to think that
people could potentially stop their brains from shrinking and keep them sharp
by adjusting their diet."
'Strong potential'
Co-author Maret Traber of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State
University said: "The vitamins and nutrients you get from eating a wide range
of fruits, vegetables and fish can be measured in blood biomarkers.
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia
Symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes, and problems with communication
and reasoning
No one single factor has been identified as a cause for Alzheimer's disease - a
combination of factors, including age, genes, environment, lifestyle and
general health are implicated
Source: Alzheimer's Society
"I'm a firm believer these nutrients have strong potential to protect your
brain and make it work better."
Commenting on the study, Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's
Research UK, said:
"One strength of this research is that it looked at nutrients in people's
blood, rather than relying on answers to a questionnaire.
"It's important to note that this study looked at a small group of people with
few risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, and did not investigate whether they
went on to develop Alzheimer's at a later stage.
"There is a clear need for conclusive evidence about the effect of diet on our
risk of Alzheimer's, which can only come from large-scale, long-term studies."