FOOD AND MEMORY

Over the years, we have become more and more aware of the impact of food and the quality of our diets on long term health. One of these concerns relate to the quality of our memory and cognitive health. The term dementia is commonly used when describing symptoms of decreased memory, a decrease in communication ability as well as a struggle to perform certain daily activities.

Statistics show that in 2013 an estimated 44.4 million people worldwide were living with dementia. It is expected that this number will increase to about 75.6 million by 2030. In the 2011 census, approximately 2.2 million people in South Africa were seen to have some form of dementia (Alzheimer’s Association South Africa, 2019).

Risk factors for dementia are varied and cannot be isolated to only one factor. Conditions that can contribute are related to a person’s age, genetic predisposition, environmental and lifestyle factors as well as existing medical conditions. Certain factors cannot be changed (e.g. age or genetic predisposition), but the focus should be on those that can be changed. Such factors include lifestyle habits, physical activity, nutritional intake and managing overall health risks (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019).

For many years researchers have studied the connection between diet and cognitive function. Evidence has shown a direct relationship between diet and brain health. The Mediterranean diet came out as the best dietary pattern to follow to decrease cognitive decline (Vincenzo, S. et al., 2017). Other evidence has also shown that following the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet patterns slowed down cognitive decline.

Following these dietary patterns also caused a notable reduction in the Alzheimer’s disease rate.

In conclusion it is important to note that following a healthy diet (like the Mediterranean diet) and lifestyle will reduce your overall risk for multiple health problems. Improving your general health in this way reduces your risk for dementia as well.

After all, prevention is better than cure.

Resources

Alzheimer’s South Africa. 2019. Prevalence of dementia. https://alzheimers.org.za/prevalence-of-dementia/ Alzheimer’s Association. 2019. Prevention. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/prevention Vincenzo, S. et al. 2017. Relationship of Dietary Patterns, Foods and Micro- and Macronutrients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Late-Life Cognitive Disorders: A Systematic Review. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 59 (3), p815 – 849.