Researchers in Australia say eating nuts every day on a long-term basis could be the key to older people maintaining and even improving their memory and thinking skills
A daily dose of peanuts could be the secret to staving off dementia, a new study suggests.
Researchers from Australia have discovered that munching on nuts every day over a long period could help older folks maintain and even boost their memory and cognitive abilities.
The study, which involved more than 4,800 Chinese adults aged 55 and above, found that consuming more than 10 grams of nuts daily – equivalent to two teaspoons – was “positively associated” with enhanced mental functioning, including improved thinking, reasoning, and memory.
Lead researcher Dr Ming Li revealed that this is the first study to establish a link between cognition and nut consumption in older Chinese adults, offering crucial insights into the growing mental health issues, including dementia, faced by an ageing population.
Dr Li, from the University of South Australia, stated: “By eating more than 10 grams – or two teaspoons – of nuts per day older people could improve their cognitive function by up to 60 per cent- compared to those not eating nuts – effectively warding off what would normally be experienced as a natural two-year cognition decline.”
The research analysed data from the China Health Nutrition Survey collected over a span of 22 years, revealing that 17 per cent of participants were regular consumers of nuts, predominantly peanuts. According to Dr Li, peanuts possess specific anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can alleviate and reduce cognitive decline.
She explained: “Nuts are known to be high in healthy fats, protein and fibre with nutritional properties that can lower cholesterol and improve cognitive health. While there is no cure for age-related cognition decline and neurogenerative disease, variations in what people eat are delivering improvements for older people.”, reports Surrey Live.
Dr Li went on to say: “As people age, they naturally experience changes to conceptual reasoning, memory, and processing speed. This is all part of the normal ageing process. But age is also the strongest known risk factor for cognitive disease.”
“If we can find ways to help older people retain their cognitive health and independence for longer – even by modifying their diet – then this absolutely worth the effort.”
The research was highlighted in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Ageing.
