Health Information

What You Eat May Affect
Your Odds of Alzheimer's
While scientists aren't exactly ready to anoint an "anti-Alzheimer's diet," they are edging closer to an understanding of the complex interactions of nutrients that might help ward off Alzheimer's disease. A new study of 2,148 senior New Yorkers has identified a dietary pattern that seems to optimize the nutrients - such as B12, folate and vitamin E - that may protect against Alzheimer's, while minimizing saturated fats and other elements associated with greater risk. During a four-year follow-up, 253 previously healthy individuals developed Alzheimer's disease. One dietary pattern was significantly associated with a reduced risk of the disease: high intakes of salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, fruits and cruciferous and dark and green leafy vegetables and low intakes of high-fat dairy, red meat, organ meat and butter. Researchers concluded, "Our findings provide support for further exploration of food combination-based dietary behavior for the prevention of this important public health problem." - Archives of Neurology