Just A Thought 7
Food for Thought
Dementia is largely known as a progressive problem that does not have any significant treatment. To a large extent, families of the dementia patients know that the treatment options are restricted and the problems of these people are almost endless and highly taxing for the family. Scientists across the globe are looking at modifiable factors that may be modified and thereby help stop the progress or at least delay the progress of dementia. And this includes significant diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Nutrition is amongst the most important factors that the researchers are looking at in the search for an answer. The idea probably comes from the fact that nutrition is a crucial factor for many diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart diseases and claims keep cropping even for cancers. Nutrition may affect the brain functions and the cognitive roles of different parts of the brains. The effects probably result from the actions of these nutrients on brain volume and brain integrity.
Nutrition is thus an important lifestyle factor that can help reduce the risk of development of the cognitive impairment and dementia. Certain nutrients have been known to help, such as folate, vitamin D, flavoniods and certain lipids. Food groups like vegetables, fruits, seafood, and caffeine may help as well especially in elderly, who happen to be the commonest population that develops dementia and cognitive impairment. Protection may especially be significant amongst the people who have deficiencies of these nutrients. Healthy diet patterns like Mediterranean diet and DASH diet yield in significant benefits probably as a result of the cumulative beneficial effects of many ingredients that is available in these diets.
So, should one start taking supplements for these nutrients? Well “NO”. If one knows their food and it’s nutrients, supplements are not needed. For example, Vitamin B6 is found in grains, pulses, nuts, fish etc. Vitamin B12 rich foods include animal and dairy products and foods containing yeast. Folate is an important component of green leafy vegetables, legumes, and almonds. Vitamin C rich sources are sour kiwis and citrus fruits. The beauty vitamin (vitamin E) enriched foods being nuts, seeds, fish oils and vegetable oils. Yellow or orange vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkins), dark leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli) are good sources of Vitamin A. Vitamin D, the one which makes our bones strong; is found in good amounts in full fat dairy products, egg yolk, meat and fish. Omega 3 fatty acid rich sources are fish oils and some vegetable oils and nut (linseed, rapeseed oil and walnuts).
Taking care of the nutrition across the lifespan may help keep dementia at bay. And who has not heard the grand ma state emphatically- “badam aur akhrot se dimaag tez hota hai”. Let’s put a little faith in old wives tale.
Dr Saumya H Mittal. MBBS, MD (Medicine), CC (Diabetes Mellitus), DNB (Neurology)
https://goo.gl/maps/TFTvRkXeiQr more
Dementia is largely known as a progressive problem that does not have any significant treatment. To a large extent, families of the dementia patients know that the treatment options are restricted and the problems of these people are almost endless and highly taxing for the family. Scientists across the globe are looking at modifiable factors that may be modified and thereby help stop the progress or at least delay the progress of dementia. And this includes significant diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Nutrition is amongst the most important factors that the researchers are looking at in the search for an answer. The idea probably comes from the fact that nutrition is a crucial factor for many diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart diseases and claims keep cropping even for cancers. Nutrition may affect the brain functions and the cognitive roles of different parts of the brains. The effects probably result from the actions of these nutrients on brain volume and brain integrity.
Nutrition is thus an important lifestyle factor that can help reduce the risk of development of the cognitive impairment and dementia. Certain nutrients have been known to help, such as folate, vitamin D, flavoniods and certain lipids. Food groups like vegetables, fruits, seafood, and caffeine may help as well especially in elderly, who happen to be the commonest population that develops dementia and cognitive impairment. Protection may especially be significant amongst the people who have deficiencies of these nutrients. Healthy diet patterns like Mediterranean diet and DASH diet yield in significant benefits probably as a result of the cumulative beneficial effects of many ingredients that is available in these diets.
So, should one start taking supplements for these nutrients? Well “NO”. If one knows their food and it’s nutrients, supplements are not needed. For example, Vitamin B6 is found in grains, pulses, nuts, fish etc. Vitamin B12 rich foods include animal and dairy products and foods containing yeast. Folate is an important component of green leafy vegetables, legumes, and almonds. Vitamin C rich sources are sour kiwis and citrus fruits. The beauty vitamin (vitamin E) enriched foods being nuts, seeds, fish oils and vegetable oils. Yellow or orange vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, and pumpkins), dark leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli) are good sources of Vitamin A. Vitamin D, the one which makes our bones strong; is found in good amounts in full fat dairy products, egg yolk, meat and fish. Omega 3 fatty acid rich sources are fish oils and some vegetable oils and nut (linseed, rapeseed oil and walnuts).
Taking care of the nutrition across the lifespan may help keep dementia at bay. And who has not heard the grand ma state emphatically- “badam aur akhrot se dimaag tez hota hai”. Let’s put a little faith in old wives tale.
Dr Saumya H Mittal. MBBS, MD (Medicine), CC (Diabetes Mellitus), DNB (Neurology)
https://goo.gl/maps/TFTvRkXeiQr more
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