Eat Well to Lower Dementia Risk
Wise & Well Weekly: The newsletter helping you make tomorrow a little better than today
Welcome back to your weekly dose of wisdom and wellness, with science-backed insights you can use to improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being. If you appreciate highly curated, professionally edited articles. We’ve got several new health and wellness articles below, but first…
THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT
Plenty of evidence has linked poor diet with faster biological aging (how fast the body ages, irrespective of candles on a birthday cake), higher risk of dementia, cancer, diabetes and numerous other diseases, and less time on this planet. The studies often reveal associations, not firm proof that this causes that. But the evidence keeps mounting to make it abundantly clear that what goes in your body has tremendous effects on how things turn out in your life.
A new study of long-term data on 1,644 people found a strong link between healthy eating and a slower pace of biological aging and a lower the risk of developing dementia.
The 1,644 participants were monitored periodically for several decades, with examinations and questionnaires every few years. Nearly 9% of them developed dementia. The findings are detailed in the journal Annals of Neurology.
The style of eating found to be effective is called the Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet (MIND). It emphasizes vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains, while encouraging moderation (though not exclusion) of red meats, sweets and other unhealthy items. You can learn more about it from this Harvard website.
The new study doesn’t explain everything about why the MIND diet is good for the mind, and eating well does not guarantee any individual will avoid disease. But the results suggest that unless you have a health condition that dictates a specialized diet, leaning into this one ups your odds of living longer and staying healthier and sharper to the end.
From the archives: Ways to Lower Your Dementia Risk
HEALTHY READING
A selection of this week’s informative and insightful Wise & Well articles:
Do You Need a Whole-Body Deodorant?
Deodorants designed to reduce odor everywhere, anywhere might sound appealing. But these suddenly popular whole-body deodorants are not free of irritants. And they’re not cheap. The writer cuts through the marketing hype to figure out if and when (and why) a full-body deodorant might be necessary, and whether most people need deodorant anywhere on their bodies.
— By Amy Sterling Casil
Strategies for Enhancing Exercise Recovery
This physical therapist helps you find the balance between progress and overtraining — in whatever fitness efforts you pursue — and how to make sure your body gets the rest it needs in order to come back stronger.
— By Zachary Walston, PT, DPT, OCS
How a Disastrous Entrance Exam Changed My Life Trajectory
The writer tells the story of a humiliating event that almost derailed her hopes for a career in psychology, and how what seemed like a disaster at the time proved crucial to where she is today. This is one in an occasional Wise & Well series of Stories We Never Told Anyone.
— By Gail Post, PhD
An Antiviral Medication for Dementia?
The drug Amantadine began as a treatment of influenza. Later it became a mainstay in the management of Parkinson’s disease. It’s also prescribed off-label for to reduce symptoms of depression, ADHD, and traumatic brain injury. New revelations indicate it might be a powerful tool for treating Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.
— By John Kruse MD, PhD
And from our sister publication, Aha! …
Does the Skin Really Have 7 Layers?
Your skin is amazing! It’s waterproof, helps literally hold you together, protects your insides, and even regulates your body temperature. Plus, as organs go, your skin is a whopper. This dermatologist peels back the mysteries of skin, the amazing things it does, and how to keep it healthy.
— By Annie Foley
What Causes Bad Breath?
New science uncovers the exact cause of halitosis, which should lead to better treatments. Learn what’s going on, what remedies work, and what to avoid.
— By Annie Foley
Wise & Well writers are physicians, psychiatrists, research scientists, dieticians, fitness experts, journalists and other professionals who share their expertise to help you make tomorrow a little better than today. — Rob