Study Finds Women Consuming Heart Healthy Food Are At A Lower Risk Of Cognitive Decline

A new study has revealed that women who follow a diet containing blood pressure-reducing food items in their middle years are at a 17 percent reduced risk of cognitive decline and memory loss. The findings of the study show that following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH diet, in the middle years of life can enhance cognitive function later in life among women. Women contribute to over two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease patients around the world. Alzheimer’s disease is considered the most common type of dementia.

The outcomes of the study have been published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The senior author of the study, Yu Chen has said that after a follow-up of 30 years, women following the DASH diet in their middle years have been found to be at reduced risk of cognitive issues in their older years.

The DASH diet consists of a high intake of plant-based foods that are loaded with calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The DASH diet strongly recommends against the consumption of sodium, sugar, cholesterol, and saturated fat. The large-scale study also reveals that hypertension especially in midlife is a contributing factor for dementia and cognitive issues in older age.

The study examined health data from 5116 of the over 14000 women who participated in the NYU Women’s Health Study to assess the effects of lifestyle and diet on the development of cognitive issues and other chronic diseases. The average age of the participating women was 49 years. During the 30-year-long follow-up, participants were asked to report cognitive issues that they experienced.

Experts used six validated standard questions that are analytics of later years’ mild cognitive impairment that causes dementia to assess self-reported cognitive issues. These questions were about problems in recalling recent incidents, comprehending spoken instructions or group conversations, or navigating through acquainted streets. As per the findings, nearly 33 percent of women reported experiencing more than one issue. While women who followed the DASH diet were found to be at a 17 percent reduced risk of reporting multiple cognitive problems.