Latest news with #TheJournalOfNutrition
Medical News Today
20-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Eating 1 egg per week linked to lower Alzheimer's risk, study finds
A study finds that eating eggs is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's brain autopsies, the scientists also showed that those who ate eggs more regularly had less protein buildup in the brain associated with Alzheimer' researchers conclude that this link may be due to eggs' choline and omega-3 have been a dietary staple since before humans evolved to be humans. Although they are packed with nutrients, relatively cost-effective, and easy to source, they have been the subject of much controversy in the health and wellness domain over the years.A study whose results appear in The Journal of Nutrition, however, may help reestablish their good reputation. According to the authors, eating one egg per week was associated with a 47% reduction in Alzheimer's risk compared with eating eggs less than once each month. They also showed that those eating eggs had a reduced buildup of the toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer' we get into the details, we should mention that some of the authors received funding from the Egg Nutrition Center, 'the science and nutrition education division of the American Egg Board.'The trouble with eggs: Are they good or bad for health?Are eggs good for you or bad for you? One hundred years ago, and for thousands of years before that, eggs were considered essential. Nutrient-dense and rich in protein and micronutrients, eggs were a staple throughout the a few decades ago, scientists found that high levels of cholesterol in the blood were a risk factor for heart disease, so high-cholesterol eggs were pushed to the naughty as nutrition science progressed, it became clear that dietary cholesterol did not significantly impact blood levels of to this new understanding, and a healthy dose of research funding from the Egg Nutrition Center, eggs were edged slowly back into saturated fat content, though, is still a concern, so eggs are still partially sidelined. Still, they are likely much healthier than many of the low-fat, highly processed snacks that have replaced eggs in modern kitchens. In fact, eggs contain all essential trace most nutritionists and associated experts have a relatively neutral view of eggs. In general, the advice is that they can form a part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, but at the same time, eating multiple eggs per day could be and Alzheimer's: What is the link?Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, and despite decades of research, there is no cure, and treatments that can slow the disease are severely that reason, understanding the lifestyle factors associated with increased risk is essential. In this vein, many scientists are focusing on dietary research has shown that choline is important for cognitive function. It has also identified a potential link between moderate choline intake and a reduced risk of dementia. As the authors of the latest study explain, eggs are the 'top food source' of choline, so they are worth investigating. Choline has many important functions; for instance, it is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, plays a pivotal role in cell membranes, and has neuroprotective powers. Also, as the authors explain, 'choline modulates the expression of key genes related to memory, learning, and cognitive functions via epigenetic mechanisms.'Although our body can synthesise choline, it cannot synthesize enough to meet all the body's needs, so some must be taken in with our diet. Aside from choline, eggs contain essential omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain health as we age. Worryingly, studies show that the majority of adults in the United States do not consume enough of these essential fatty facts led the authors of the new study to investigate links between egg consumption and Alzheimer's risk and less protein buildupThe recent study included data from 1,024 older adults with an average age of 81.4. All participants lived in retirement communities and residential facilities in Illinois. They attended yearly checkups and completed food frequency questionnaires, and the researchers followed them for an average of 6.7 years. During this time, a little over one-quarter of them developed Alzheimer's analysis, the scientists found that individuals who consumed at least one egg per week had a 47% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's during follow-up compared with those eating one egg per month or the second part of their study, they looked at the post-mortem brains of 578 participants. They found that those who ate one or more eggs each week were more likely to have less Alzheimer's-associated protein and omega-3 synergyOverall, the authors suggest that consuming at least one egg per week may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. They explain that the choline and omega-3s in eggs might have a 'synergistic' effect, whereby they join forces to protect brain health during News Today spoke to Christopher U. Missling, PhD, president and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences, who was not involved in the study. Missling explained that:'About 39–40% of the protective effect was explained by higher dietary choline intake. Egg yolks also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have known neuroprotective properties. The combination of choline and omega-3s may be particularly beneficial for brain health.'The study authors also point to previous research demonstrating that people with Alzheimer's are more likely to be deficient in omega-3s and the scientists conclude that, 'once replicated in other prospective cohorts and confirmed by clinical trials, these findings may have important public health implications for reducing the population's risk of [Alzheimer's].'If the results are replicated, this could be a very useful, low-cost intervention. MNT also spokle with Maddie Gallivan, RD, a registered dietitian who was likewise not involved in the recent study.'Eggs are often a go-to food for older adults, as they're soft in texture, which can be helpful for those with dentures, quick to prepare, and packed with key nutrients,' Gallivan explained. 'So it's great to see a study focussing on how they may support cognitive health in later life.'Limitations and future researchHowever, the study does have certain limitations. For instance, they only had a relatively short follow-up — just 6.7 years. This, as the authors explain, increases the risk of reverse causality. 'The study population consisted of older adults from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a specific U.S.-based cohort,' Missling told MNT. 'The findings may not generalize to younger populations or those from different cultural or dietary backgrounds.'He also reminded us that 'dietary intake was assessed through self-reported food frequency questionnaires, which are subject to recall bias and inaccuracies.' So, participants may not have accurately reported or remembered their egg consumption.'It's important to remember that no single food acts in isolation,' Gallivan told us, 'and it's our overall dietary pattern that really counts. A varied, nutrient-dense diet rich in whole foods is key to supporting brain health and reducing dementia risk.'For now, if you like eggs, enjoy them. They may reduce your dementia risk, but if not, they will certainly provide you with a good dose of protein and a healthy range of micronutrients.
Medical News Today
16-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Mediterranean and 3 other diet types may lower dementia risk, especially in women
Many factors can affect a person's risk of developing dementia later in has shown that diet is one factor that might influence dementia risk. One study suggests that following certain diets, like the Mediterranean diet, could decrease dementia risk, while pro-inflammatory diets may increase risk. Can what people eat affect their dementia risk? A new study suggests that this may likely be the explored in depth how certain dietary habits are related to dementia risk. Using data from the UK Biobank, the results confirm the benefits of dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet and suggest that inflammatory diets may increase someone's chances of developing results also indicate that the impact of diet on dementia risk may be more significant for women and older adults. The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and diets affect dementia riskThis study examined diet and dementia risk while also considering the impact on people with certain characteristics, such as obesity or older age. Researchers evaluated participants' diets based on several scoring indices. One looked at adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and another at adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet. The MIND diet combines the DASH and Mediterranean diets and focuses on components like nuts, leafy vegetables, and berries. Next was the Recommended Food Score, which helps evaluate diet quality based on how much people eat certain foods like lean meat, low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables. There was also the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, which looks at how well someone is following American Dietary Guidelines. Finally, researchers also used the Energy-adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII) to look at how inflammatory diets were. This index considered components like some vitamins and minerals and components like alcohol and fat intake. Researchers then divided dietary index scores into four groups. They also considered covariates, including physical activity, smoking, and body mass index. Researchers were able to analyze data from 131,209 participants, who did not all have a baseline dementia diagnosis. They then had exact matching in each of the five dietary categories for sex and age. Exact matching is a strategy used in cohort studies that can help with confounding. At baseline, the average age of participants was age 56. The average follow-up time was 13.5 years, and throughout the follow-up, 1,453 participants developed dementia. Which diets lowered dementia risk the most?Overall, participants with the lowest scores for the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet, and the Recommended Food Score experienced the 'highest incidence of dementia.' Researchers also observed that those with the lowest inflammatory diet scores and the highest Alternative Healthy Eating Index scores had 'the lowest incidence of dementia after the follow-up period.' However, for these two groups, there were no quartile group differences that reached a significant level. Researchers observed that higher scores for the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet, the Recommended Food Score, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index were all linked to decreased dementia risk. Following more of an inflammatory diet was linked to an increased dementia risk. They also found that higher scores for the MIND diet, the Recommended Food Score, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index were all linked to a decreased risk for mild cognitive impairment. Time was also an important factor. For example, at the less than five-year follow-up, only the MIND appeared to be associated with a decreased dementia risk. At the five to ten-year follow-up, more closely following the MIND diet, the Recommended Food Score, and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index appeared to decrease dementia risk. At the ten-year or more mark, some associations remained significant, such as how greater following of the Mediterranean diet appeared to lower dementia risk by 24%. Does age or sex affect which diet helps?Subgroup analyses looked at sex, age, and obesity. Researchers found that for participants ages 60 and older, more closely following the Mediterranean diet and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index reduced dementia risk, but this wasn't the case for younger participants. The associations with other scoring indexes were still significant regardless of age. For women, closer adherence to all healthy diets and lower inflammatory diet scores all appeared to lower dementia risk. For men, only the Recommended Food Score appeared to significantly decrease dementia risk, and the effects were still better for the Mediterranean diet appeared to help with dementia risk regardless of weight. A greater inflammatory diet score was associated with an increased risk for dementia in participants with obesity. The other healthy dietary patterns besides the Mediterranean diet helped lower dementia risk for participants who did not have obesity. Finally, researchers looked at how these diets impacted people with the ApoEε4 genotype, which can increase risk for Alzheimer's disease. For non-ApoEε4 carriers, higher scores of all healthy diets helped to decrease dementia risk, and higher inflammatory diet scores increased risk. For ApoEε4 carriers, only adherence to the Recommended Food Score appeared to help decrease dementia risk. Amarish Dave, DO, an osteopathic physician specializing in neurology, who was not involved in the study, commented with his thoughts on the findings: 'This study adds hard numbers to what we know intuitively, which is that healthy diets lower your dementia risk, and inflammatory foods raise it. It confirms that healthy eating patterns matter when it comes to reducing dementia risk. The size and quality of the data make these results hard to ignore.'What the study may be missingThis study adds information regarding potential dietary interventions related to dementia. There are limitations, such as the study was only in participants in the U.K., and some information comes from participant reporting. There may be restrictions on generalizability to other groups, and future research can have more diversity. Any general limitations of the UK Biobank also apply to this study. Researchers note that the self-reporting of food intake increases the risk of recall bias; people can make mistakes such as incorrectly estimating portions and nutrients. They also note the possibility of an underestimation of the association between diet and risk for dementia. Participants were between ages 40 and 69 at baseline, and researchers only did follow-up for a certain timeframe. Researchers suggest that using other follow-up periods and working with diverse age groups could be helpful, as this could reveal variation. Diet information was collected in a narrow window, and researchers did not take into account how participants' diets could have changed during the follow-up. The researchers suggest that examining dietary changes could be helpful in truly looking at the potential long-term impact of diet on people's chances of developing dementia. Some dietary data was lacking. For example, researchers note that they lacked information on how much olive oil participants were consuming, so they weren't able to include this in the scoring when considering the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is a major component of the Mediterranean diet. Researchers also lacked data from the original Dietary Inflammatory Index, so they only included some elements of this index. The researchers acknowledge that the use of exact matching in this study was also limiting. They explain that 'the estimated effect can only be generalized to a small population and lacks precision.' Finally, there is the risk for residual confounding, which researchers acknowledge could impact 'dietary choices and dementia risk.' Inflammatory diets may raise dementia riskThis study highlights the diet's important role in possibly protecting against dementia. Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine, who was also not involved in the study, noted the following clinical implications of the research: 'This study speaks to the importance of long-term adherence to diet and the benefits of this. It also demonstrates how diet may play a greater role for older women than for other groups. Also of interest, the study confirms prior findings that pro-inflammatory diets (high in saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates) can be a risk factor for dementia.'The results also suggest the need for doctors to keep discussing diets with their clients. As noted by Dave: 'Doctors should be talking to patients about brain-healthy diets just like we talk about heart health. Eating less processed food and more whole, anti-inflammatory foods could be a powerful tool to prevent cognitive decline. These results show that food should be part of the prescription.'
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Skip the cream and sugar on your next coffee run! Researchers say you'll live longer
Drinking coffee may be linked to a decreased risk of death. Researchers at Boston's Tufts University said Monday that drinking one to two cups of caffeinated coffee a day was tied to a lower risk of all causes of death and particularly death from cardiovascular disease. They found that black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat were associated with a 14 percent lower risk. But the same link was not observed for coffee with high amounts of added sugar and saturated fat. 'Coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world, and with nearly half of American adults reporting drinking at least one cup per day, it's important for us to know what it might mean for health,' Fang Fang Zhang, the Neely Family Professor at the Friedman School, said in a statement. 'The health benefits of coffee might be attributable to its bioactive compounds, but our results suggest that the addition of sugar and saturated fat may reduce the mortality benefits.' Zhang was the senior author of the National Institutes of Health-supported study, which was published on Monday in The Journal of Nutrition. In the observational study, the authors analyzed data from nine consecutive cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, examining 46,000 adults above the age of 20 who completed a valid assessment of what they had consumed over the course of 24 hours on the first day of the study. The data was recorded from 1999 to 2018. Ultimately, they found that drinking one cup of coffee daily was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of death. That risk rose by a percentage when drinking two-to-three cups. But, more cups didn't have additional effects, and the link between coffee and a lower risk of death by cardiovascular disease weakened when coffee consumption was more than three cups per day. The research builds on previous research supporting the conclusions from Tulane University. A decade-long study of 40,000 American adults found that people who were specifically morning coffee drinkers were 31 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease and 16 percent less likely to die earlier of any cause than those who drank no coffee. 'Few studies have examined how coffee additives could impact the link between coffee consumption and mortality risk, and our study is among the first to quantify how much sweetener and saturated fat are being added,' first author Dr. Bingjie Zhou said. 'Our results align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which recommend limiting added sugar and saturated fat.'
Khaleej Times
30-01-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Perimenopause: What should I be eating?
When we think of perimenopause, food isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind. Hot flashes, mood swings, and sleepless nights? Sure. Quinoa, salmon, and leafy greens? Probably not. Yet what we eat during this transition can affect how we feel physically and emotionally. Think of your body in perimenopause as an orchestra, where the hormones are playing their own tune. When the oestrogen levels decrease, the overall performance can easily go off-key. Here, food is the conductor that brings harmony. Hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone affect your reproductive system, bones, brain, heart, and more. As their levels change during perimenopause, symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and joint pain can creep in. While these changes are natural, certain foods can help your body adjust more smoothly to this new stage of life. Nutritional factors play an important role in alleviating the symptoms that are associated with perimenopause. For example, hot flashes and mood swings were much better in women consuming more whole foods and plant-based diets, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Another more recent study by The North American Menopause Society emphasises that adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D is related to a lowered risk for osteoporosis, a condition that is common after menopause. The must-haves So, what should be on your plate? Here are some foods that can help you feel your best: Phytoestrogen-rich foods perform similar to the oestrogen in our body, relieving symptoms like hot flashes. Foods rich in phytoestrogens include flaxseeds, soy, chickpeas, and lentils. A small handful of flaxseed in your morning smoothie or a serving of edamame as a snack will go a long way. Post menopause, the falling levels of oestrogen can cause deterioration of bone health. Foods high in calcium, like yogurt, almonds, leafy greens, and vitamin D from salmon or fortified foods will help keep your bones strong and resilient. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines. These healthy fats maintain heart health and lower levels of inflammation. Not a fish lover? Walnuts and chia seeds are good substitutes. If you're struggling with sleep, magnesium can be a game-changer. Spinach, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate are delicious and calming for your nervous system. Complex carbs like quinoa, brown rice, and oats provide sustained energy and help stabilise blood sugar levels, which can fluctuate during perimenopause and lead to those dreaded mid-afternoon crashes. Say no to... Being mindful of what you eat can make all the difference: Caffeine and alcohol can trigger hot flashes and sleep disturbances; hence, they should be limited. Processed sugars may cause a spike and crash in blood sugar. High-sodium foods may result in heightened risks of hypertension. Building a balanced plate A rule of thumb? Think colour. A colourful plate often means you're getting a variety of nutrients. And then, of course, there's the emotional role food plays. Comfort foods are named as such for a reason. Try making healthier versions of your favourite foods. Love pasta? Swap in whole-grain or lentil-based noodles. One of the most accessible and easy ways of taking care of oneself is through eating. It's not only about giving your body fuel but also about giving it what it needs to thrive. Gayu Lewis is a Menopause Wellness Advocate and Holistic Coach. ALSO READ: Why women need to prepare for menopause at age 38 Perimenopause, the secret signal of change What causes the early onset of menopause?
