Researchers are still investigating the reasons behind declining brain health. Genetics and natural aging are important variables, but lifestyle choices can also have a big impact. This relationship was further investigated in two recent studies that examined the potential effects of nutrition and stress on cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease prevention.
According to one study, older persons’ poor cognitive health is associated with perceived stress, or how stressed out they feel about their lives. Over 24,000 participants, with an average age of 64, were recruited by researchers. They used the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Perceived Stress Scale to measure stress and cognitive performance. The findings indicated that low cognitive test scores were more common among those with the highest stress level scale scores. Conversely, test scores were positively correlated with lower levels of stress. JAMA Network Open released the results online on March 7, 2023.
Researchers investigated if specific dietary practices could reduce the incidence of Alzheimer’s in a different study that was published online by Neurology on March 8, 2023. Data from 581 participants in the Rush Memory and Aging Project cohort—a prospective study of senior citizens who consented to yearly assessments and brain donation at death—were examined by the researchers. Each year, participants filled out food questionnaires and provided information about their eating habits.