Study finds junk food may decrease mental functioning
Posted January 3, 2012 8:06 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
New research from the United States suggests a diet rich in vitamins and fish may actually protect the brain from some of the degenerative effects of aging, while junk food may have the opposite effect.
The research looked at nutrients in the blood rather than relying on questionnaires to assess a person’s diet.
The researchers analyzed blood samples from 104 healthy people with an average age of 87 and few known risk factors for Alzheimer’s.
Those who had more vitamin B, C, D and E in their blood performed better in tests of memory and thinking skills.
Those with high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, found heavily in fish, also had higher average test scores.
Those whose blood tests showed a diet higher in french fries, hamburgers and fast food had lower average test scores.
The study is reported in the Journal Neurology.
