Eating more magnesium-rich foods may also help reduce the risk of dementia, a new study suggests. In aging societies, this syndrome is becoming more common. Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death in the world, but in Australia the neurodegenerative disease ranks second.
It turns out that spinach, various nuts and beans can reduce the risk of dementia because they are rich in magnesium.
Dementia cannot be cured, caution is advised
More than 6 thousand participated in the study. cognitive function in a healthy UK population aged 40–73 years. People who consume more than 550 milligrams of magnesium per day have been found to have “younger” brains.
At age 55, the brain age of such people was, on average, one year less than that of study participants who normally consumed about 350 milligrams of magnesium per day.
“Our study shows that 41 percent increasing magnesium intake can slow the age-related decline in brain size. This is associated with better cognitive function and a lower risk of dementia in older age,” said lead study author Khawlah Alateeq of the Australian National University.
“This study sheds light on the potential benefits of a magnesium-rich diet and its role in promoting good brain health,” she added.
It is predicted that the number of people diagnosed with dementia will increase significantly in the future: from 57.4 million to in 2019 up to 152.8 million in 2050 Experts warn that this will pose a new challenge to health and social services and the global economy.
“Dementia has no cure, and the development of pharmacological treatments over the past 30 years has not yielded the desired results. Therefore, it is suggested to pay more attention to prevention”, said the co-author of the study, Dr. Erin Walsh.
It is also important for young people
Data from the new study could be useful in developing programs to promote healthy brain aging through nutritional strategies, she said.
The researchers say that it is better to include a higher amount of magnesium in the diet already at an early age. It can protect against neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive decline in our 40s.
“The study suggests that higher dietary magnesium intake may contribute to neuroprotection in the early stages of aging, and the preventive effects may begin as early as age 40 or even earlier,” said Alateeq.
That means people of all ages should pay attention to how much magnesium they’re getting, she says.
The study also found that magnesium’s protective effect against dementia was stronger in women than in men.
Study participants completed an online questionnaire five times over a 16-month period. According to the given answers, the amount of magnesium they consumed per day was calculated.
The researchers focused on how much people ate foods considered to be the main sources of magnesium: leafy vegetables and legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
The study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition.
Prepared by MedicalXpress inf.