Oct. 24, 2023 — A heart-healthy weight-reduction plan has been linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline in women over 40 in a recent study.
The study found that the more these women followed the DASH weight-reduction plan, short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, the lower their risk of developing these problems.
The study was reported Alzheimer's and dementia.
The DASH weight-reduction plan relies on fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins while limiting pork, salt, added sugars, and fat. It is designed to cut back hypertension.
The weight-reduction plan has also been shown to cut back the chance of heart problems and stroke. HealthyLine reported.
The research was based on data from greater than 5,000 women who were among the many 14,000 women within the New York University Health Study. Their average age at entry into this system was 46.3 years.
Information about her weight-reduction plan was in comparison with how closely she followed the DASH weight-reduction plan. After about 30 years, the ladies were asked to report any cognitive problems, with researchers asking them questions that will reveal mild cognitive impairments that may result in dementia.
A 3rd of participants reported having greater than one among the six forms of cognitive problems they were asked about. But those that followed the DASH weight-reduction plan most strictly had a 17% lower risk of reporting multiple health conditions.
Heart-healthy diets just like the DASH weight-reduction plan are wealthy in nutrients present in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds, said Kelsey Costa, a registered dietitian with the National Coalition on Healthcare.
“These components possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may reduce oxidative stress in the brain while promoting neurogenesis (nerve cell formation) and neuronal connectivity, contributing to the overall health and functionality of our brain,” she said.
She noted that the DASH weight-reduction plan also lowers hypertension, which is a risk factor for cognitive decline.