®** ^îortlanô (Observer
January 4, 2012
Page 9
Elderly Eat Better for Mental Health
Oregon study
first of its kind
(AP) — Elderly people with
higher levels o f certain vitam ins
and om ega 3 fatty acids in their
blood score better on m ental acu
ity tests than those who eat junk
food, a new study has shown.
The study published in N eurol
ogy, the journal o f the A m erican
A cad em y o f N e u ro lo g y , also
showed that eating better could
help reduce the brain shrinkage
c o m m o n ly a s s o c ia te d w ith
A lzheim er's disease.
"This approach clearly shows
the biological and neurological ac
tivity that's associated with actual
nutrient levels, both good and
bad," said M aret Traber, a princi
pal investigator at the Linus Pauling
Institute and study co-author.
Researchers at the institute at
O regon State U niversity c o n Elderly people with higher levels o f certain vitamins and omega 3
ducted the study, one o f the first fatty acids in their blood score better on mental acuity tests than
o f its kind, along with scientists at those who eat ju nk food, a new study shows.
the Oregon Health and Science
University in Portland.
The study, carried out among
104 people at an average age of
87, specifically measured a wide
range o f blood nutrient levels in
stead o f basing results on food
questionnaires, w hich are less
precise and less reliable.
"The vitamins and nutrients you
get from eating a wide range o f
fruits, vegetables and fish can be
m easured in blood biomarkers,"
Traber said.
"I'm a firm believer these nutri
ents have strong potential to pro
tect your brain and make it work
better."
Researchers noted the positive
effects o f high levels o f vitam ins
B, C, D and E, as well as the
h ealth y o ils m ost c o m m o n ly
found in fish, on mental quick
ness and brain size.
Those with a higher intake o f
trans-fats — comm only found in
fried foods, fast foods and other
less healthy diet options - did not
perform as well on cognitive tests.
Researchers found that while
age and education affected per
form ance on the cognitive tests,
nutrient status accounted for 17
percent o f the variation in scores,
and 37 percent o f the differences
in brain volume.
O f those who took part in the
study, seven percent show ed a
vitamin B12 deficiency, and 25
percent did not have enough vita
min D in their systems.
"If anyone right now is consid
ering a New Year's resolution to
improve their diet, this would cer
tainly give them another reason to
eat more fruits and vegetables,"
T raber said.
Study co -au th o r G ene B ow
m an o f the O regon H ealth and
S cience U niversity added w hile
resu lts needed to be confirm ed,
"It is very ex citin g to think that
p eo p le co u ld p o ten tially stop
th eir brains from shrinking and
keep them sharp by ad justing
th eir diet."
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