Consumption of 10 grams nuts daily improves cognitive function significantly in elderly.
According to new research from the University of South Australia,long-term high nut consumption could be the key to better cognitive health in older people.
Nuts are known to be high in healthy fats, protein and fibre with nutritional properties that can lower cholesterol and improve cognitive health.
World Health Organization says that by 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than five years old.
In a study of 4822 Chinese adults aged 55+ years, researchers found that eating more than 10 grams of nuts a day was positively associated with better mental functioning, including improved thinking, reasoning and memory.
Lead researcher, UniSA's Dr Ming Li, says the study is the first to report an association between cognition and nut intake in older Chinese adults, providing important insights into increasing mental health issues (including dementia) faced by an ageing population.
"Population aging is one of the most substantial challenges of the twenty-first century. Not only are people living longer, but as they age, they require additional health support which is placing unprecedented pressure on aged-care and health services," Dr Li says.
"In China, this is a massive issue, as the population is ageing far more rapidly than almost any other country in the world.
Improved and preventative health care - including dietary modifications - can help address the challenges that an aging population presents.
"By eating more than 10 grams (or two teaspoons) of nuts per day older people could improve their cognitive function by up to 60 per cent- compared to those not eating nuts - effectively warding off what would normally be experienced as a natural two-year cognition decline."
The UniSA study analysed nine waves of China Health Nutrition Survery data collected over 22 years, finding that 17 per cent of participants were regular consumers of nuts (mostly peanuts). Dr Li says peanuts have specific anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects which can alleviate and reduce cognitive decline.
"While there is no cure for age-related cognition decline and neurogenerative disease, variations in what people eat are delivering improvements for older people,"Dr Li says.
The World Health Organization estimates that globally, the number of people living with dementia is at 47 million.
By 2030, this is projected to rise to 75 million and by 2050, global dementia cases are estimated to almost triple. China has the largest population of people with dementia.
"As people age, they naturally experience changes to conceptual reasoning, memory, and processing speed. This is all part of the normal ageing process," Dr Li says
"But age is also the strongest known risk factor for cognitive disease. If we can find ways to help older people retain their cognitive health and independence for longer - even by modifying their diet - then this absolutely worth the effort."
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