7 Foods That Reduce Your Alzheimer’s Risk
Keep your brain healthy with these foods that can slow
down—or perhaps even help prevent—the disease.
Keep Your Brain Healthy
The best thing you can do
to keep your brain working the way you want it to: exercise, and eat right.
"Nutrition is very, very important to brain health," says Paul
Nussbaum, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist and member of scientific advisory
board for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. "Surprisingly, the brain
is made up of 60% fat—it’s the fattest part of our body—and that fat insulates
the nerve tracks. Without that fat we slow down mentally," Dr. Nussbaum
says.
The crucial thing to know:
The kinds of fats and foods you eat, can have a real impact on the health of
your brain. Trans fats and sugar aren't great for your brain health. What foods
are good and can reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s? Consider eating these
good-for-your-brain foods:
1. Walnuts (and almonds, pecans, hazelnuts)
Walnuts might be small in
size, but they pack a big nutritional punch. They are filled with Omega-3 fatty
acids, the good kind of fat your brain needs. A study from the New York State
Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities found that mice
given a diet including walnuts showed improvement in memory and motor
coordination. Walnuts also contain vitamin E and flavonoids, which can help
protect the brain.
2. Salmon (and mackerel, sardines, other fatty fish)
Also high in Omega-3s,
fatty fish like salmon can lower blood levels of beta-amyloid, a protein
thought to play a role in Alzheimer’s. A Columbia University study found that
the more Omega-3 fatty acids a person eats, the lower their blood beta-amyloid
levels. Dr. Nussbaum suggests eating 8 oz. of fish per week—fresh fish is best,
but you can also talk to your doctor about taking a fish oil supplement.
3. Berries
“Antioxidants are like
taking out the broom in the spring and sweeping the garage,” Dr. Nussbaum says.
“Antioxidants are the body’s broom.” Berries contain polyphenols, a type of
antioxidant which helps stop inflammation and allows brain cells to work
better. A Tufts University study found that berries can reverse slow-downs in
the brain’s ability to process information.
“You can’t go wrong if a
food has the word ‘berry’ in the name,” says Dr. Nussbaum. “Strawberries,
blueberries, cranberries— they’re all good for your brain.”
4. Spinach (and kale, other leafy greens)
Full of antioxidants and
fiber, leafy greens should be a diet staple. In a national study, women in
their 60s who ate more leafy vegetables over time did better than their
non-greens-eating counterparts on memory, verbal, and other tests. And new
studies show that high levels of vitamin C, which is found in spinach, may help
with dementia prevention.
5. Turmeric
Break out the curry! A
host of studies have shown that turmeric, the spice used in curries, and its
main active component curcumin, can help prevent Alzheimer's. In one such
study, researchers from UCLA found that vitamin D3, taken with curcumin, may
help the immune system to get rid of the amino acids that form the plaque in
the brain that's associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. So the next time you
cook, incorporate this healthy spice.
6. Coffee
Now you don’t have to feel
guilty about pouring yourself another cup. Researchers from the University of
South Florida and University of Miami found that people older than 65 who drank
three cups of coffee a day (i.e. had higher blood levels of caffeine) developed
Alzheimer's disease two to four years later than their counterparts with lower
caffeine levels, and that caffeine had a positive impact even in older adults
who were already showing early signs of Alzheimer's.
7. Chocolate
If you haven’t already
switched from milk chocolate to dark, now you have one more reason to.
Compelling research already shows that dark chocolate, which contains
flavonoids (a plant compound that helps with the body’s circulation), can help
combat heart disease, but flavonoids may also help slow down the effects of
dementia. In an Italian study, older adults who had mild symptoms of dementia
drank cocoa with high, medium and low amounts of flavonoids. Those who consumed
high amounts outperformed those who consumed low doses on cognitive tests.
And a study is currently
underway by the National Institute on Aging to see whether resveratrol, a
compound found in chocolate, red wine, and grapes, can prevent dementia. One
tip: A healthy choice is dark chocolate that has a 70% or higher cocoa content.
