Can eating specific foods or following a particular diet help prevent Alzheimer’s disease?
Many studies suggest that what we eat affects our brain’s ability to think and remember. These findings have led to research on the consumption of various foods and whether they might make a difference.
According to some research out of Yale University, there are a handful of foods that, eaten on a regular basis can help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
5 Foods That Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
1. Curry
Curcumin (in curry) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which could prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. It is believed it can prevent cognitive decline.
Curry is a staple in India, and India has a very low prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease, according to The World Health Organization. Although this is true, curry consumption is still considered a challenge because often our bodies don’t absorb the curcumin that easily.
2. Salmon, Sardines, and Other Fatty Fish
Salmon, sardines, and other fatty fishes contain high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which lower blood levels of beta-amyloid – the protein associated with memory decline and Alzheimer’s Disease.
The American Journal of Preventative Medicine reported that, in their study, the subjects who consumed fish weekly “had a larger volume of gray matter in the brain than the subjects who did not routinely consume fish. The loss of gray matter is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.”
3. Berries
Researchers believe that berries have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s because of their high phytonutrient component. This high plant component stops inflammation in the brain by removing toxic buildup
In a 2012 edition of the Annals of Neurology, researchers claimed that in a study of 16,000 women around the age of 74 there was a two-and-a-half-year delay in cognitive thinking among the women who ate a high number of berries.
Another study from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology showed how berries remove toxic buildup in the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s Disease. The result would be “improved cognitive function and a decrease in the incidence of Alzheimer’s.”
4. Coffee
Drinking coffee can prevent tau protein deposits in the brain. These deposits interrupt nerve cell communication – the main feature of Alzheimer’s disease.
A study reported in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease followed a group of 124 people between the ages of 65 to 88 who had mild cognitive impairment. The subjects with a 50% higher blood level of caffeine (from coffee) did not develop an increasing decline in cognitive ability.
Studies have also found benefits in spatial memory and working memory among coffee drinkers.
5. Dark Chocolate
Cocoa flavanol, found only in dark chocolate, is associated with improved memory. A study reported in Nature Neuroscience discovered that the subjects who drank cocoa flavanol-rich drinks for three months scored 25% higher on memory tests than those who did not drink the cocoa. Their scores on memory tests were equal to individuals 20 to 30 years younger.
So, eat dark chocolate (not milk chocolate or white chocolate) for a great boost to your brain.
We at Kabb Law are just getting started with curry, but we love salmon, berries, and especially chocolate and coffee.
When you come in to discuss your estate planning or your elder law & care planning with Rachel Kabb Effron, we’d love to share a cup of coffee with you and keep our brains sharp.
Call us at 216-991-5222.
