Dementia and Middle Aged Diet

Vegetables, fruit and fish are just some components that add to a healthy and balanced diet that can lead to a reduction in the chances of developing dementia by up to 90% when eaten as early as in the forties, according to a new study.
The study focused on those aged 40 and above, and looked at the very long terms effects of diet on the devastating mental illness. It was carried out by the researcher Marjo Eskelinen from the University of Eastern Finland, and is the first in the world to investigate how healthy diet can affect the risks of developing dementia this early in life.
2,000 initial participants were included in the tests, but only 1,449 returned for the follow up examinations. At the start of the study, the participants were between the ages of 39 and 64.
The study suggested that when a diet of a middle-aged person consists highly of fruits, vegetables, fish, and unsaturated fats, the person’s risk of developing dementia in later life is majorly reduced.
The ‘bad’ foods highlighted by the study include sugary and fatty foods like sausages, sweets, eggs, fizzy drinks, salty fish and dairy high in saturated fats.
However, nutrition and diet is a highly difficult area to study and draw conclusions about, because the diet of individuals can alter and change over time, and there are many factors that can affect it, including things like exercise, smoking, drinking and illness.
Aiming for a healthy and balanced diet and partaking in enough exercise are crucial for everybody for long lasting health.