Memory games: Eating well to remember:
A healthy diet is essential to living well, but as we age, should we change what we eat?
UTS research fellow Dr Luna Xu has studied data from 139,000 older Australians and found strong links between certain food groups, memory loss and comorbid heart disease or diabetes.
Dr Xu found high consumption of fruit and vegetables was linked to lowered odds of memory loss and its comorbid heart disease. High consumption of protein-rich foods was associated with a better memory.
Dr Xu also found the link between food group and memory status may vary among different older age groups. People aged 80 years and over with a low consumption of cereals are at the highest risk of memory loss and its comorbid heart disease, her research showed.
"Our present study implies that the healthy eating suggestions of cereals consumption in the prevention of memory loss and comorbid heart disease for older people may differ compared to other age groups," said Dr Xu, who holds a Heart Foundation postdoctoral research fellowship.
Xiaoyue Xu, Mabel Ling, Sally C. Inglis, Louise Hickman, Deborah Parker. Eating and healthy ageing: a longitudinal study on the association between food consumption, memory loss and its comorbidities. International Journal of Public Health, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01337-y
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @02:50PM
A guy that I've known for years is now early 80s. This sort of rang a bell:
> People aged 80 years and over with a low consumption of cereals are at the highest risk of memory loss and its comorbid heart disease, her research showed.
He landed in the emergency room a few weeks ago with very low energy but no other specific complaint, this after many years of being very active and capable (mentally and physically). They ran a bunch of tests and concluded that he wasn't getting enough carbohydrate. So he's added some muesli to his diet, which he always liked, but quit eating many years ago for no obvious reason. Now he seems to be (guardedly) doing a little better.
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Friday February 21 2020, @03:57PM (1 child)
So they conclude we should eat everything: Fruit+Veggies, Proteins, and Cereals all result in better memory.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @04:15PM
Didn't read the link, but my interpretation is that the ratios of "everything" may need to change with age.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @05:14PM (1 child)
for some reason I keep forgetting to eat well...
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 21 2020, @08:18PM
It's because...
...
...
I forgot what I was going to say.
(Score: 2) by ilPapa on Friday February 21 2020, @05:14PM (1 child)
I hate the expression "lower odds". I never know if it means something is more likely or less likely.
Can anyone clarify?
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 2) by bart9h on Friday February 21 2020, @06:20PM
Not a native speaker here, but I read it as less likely.
(Score: 2) by Hartree on Friday February 21 2020, @05:55PM
I always remember to buy soda and doritos, but can't seem to remember to buy soy milk and kale chips.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DeathMonkey on Friday February 21 2020, @07:05PM (3 children)
I seem to recall from an anthropology class many years ago that just as human teeth were adapting to eating meat our brains were increasing in size in concert.
So the idea that lots of protein would be good for the brain seems reasonable to me.
(Score: 2) by bussdriver on Friday February 21 2020, @08:42PM (2 children)
1) plenty of protein exists in veggies
- where do you think all that meat gets the protein? cows make it? no. it comes out of their food; they make meat from that protein they eat.
2) only 1 protein needed is missing in a vegan diet; it's found in some fungus and in lots of bacteria (if you live like a dirty ape you'll probably eat plenty of it)
3) you only can digest about 15g per meal the rest goes out the bottom. it's likely spreading it out aids digestion since that is a complex process we don't understand and we know certain things in combination are processed and absorbed differently.
4) i am a meat eater
(Score: 2) by ChrisMaple on Friday February 21 2020, @11:49PM (1 child)
It is untrue that a vegan diet is missing an essential amino acid.
IIRC, no single vegan food contains them all, but combining foods easily meets requirements.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 23 2020, @03:08AM