Good news for nut lovers: According to a study by the University of South Australia, the consumption of nuts could be the key to mental health in old age.
In the investigation 4822 Chinese adults over the age of 55 years, the researchers found that eating more than 10 grams of nuts per day was associated with improved neuronal functions.
Dr. Ming Li, senior researcher of the study, emphasized in a communication from the University, the study is the first to have found a connection between cognition and nut consumption in older adults.
Thus, the results of important discoveries, enabled by the increasing cognitive health problems of older people, including diseases such as dementia.
Nuts keep brain fit
“By eating more than 10 grams (or two tablespoons) of nuts per day, older people could improve their cognitive function by up to 60 percent – compared with others who eat no nuts”, summarizes Dr. Li the results of the study.
The mental degradation that will otherwise be regarded as normal for a period of two years, could be prevented by the consumption of nuts.
To this result, the team of researchers, after cycles of data from the nine Survey of the China Health Nutrition Survey’ analyzed that were collected over a period of 22 years.
Effect of peanuts could be the reason
In the investigation of the data was noticed by the scientists that 17 percent of the participants took regular nuts to. This was mainly to peanuts.
The mental health of this group of people the researchers then compared with the data from the rest of the participants and came to the above result.
The possible reason for the apparently positive effect of peanuts on the brain: peanuts have a specific anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that could reduce the cognitive decline, presumed to be Li.
“It is known that nuts are rich in healthy fats, protein and fiber, and nutritional properties that can reduce cholesterol levels, and cognitive health improve,” says the study leader.
Possible improvement in the health status of
The older we get, the weaker our ability for conceptual Thinking, our memory and our processing speed. This is a natural process that cannot be stopped by anything completely – at least so far.
“The age is however, the best known risk factor for cognitive disorders. If we can be of help to older people, your cognitive health and independence for longer to maintain, in the switching hre diet, it is worth the effort,” says Li.
Although there is no cure for age-related cognitive waste, and neuro-generative diseases, but it appears that adjustments in the diet led itself, such as the regular consumption of nuts, to an improvement in mental health.
Demographic change in China, particularly extremely
China has according to the communication, one of the fastest growing strata of the population. In 2029, China’s population is expected to reach 1.44 billion, while the ratio between young and old people to be unbalanced due to the demographic change extremely.
So by 2050 330 million Chinese will be over 65, and 90.4 million over 80 years old. That would be the world’s largest population in these two age groups.
“In China, health care is a massive issue, since the population is a lot of aging faster than in almost any other country in the world,” says Li.
An improved and preventive health care – thanks to findings such as these could help to meet the challenges of an ageing population successfully.
Source
- Ming, L., Shi Z.(2018): A Prospective Association of Nut Consumption with Cognitive Function in Chinese Adults Aged 55 , archived from the original on 13.03.2020 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-018-1122-5
Judith Kerstgens
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