27 July 2012

No carbs for me please!

A recent study has looked into how diet can affect the chances of developing dementia.T he results showed that those who had high carbohydrate diets were twice as likely to develop cognitive problems.

The study looked at 937 elderly men and women who had nosigns of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.Participants were tested on memory and thinking every 15 months for just under 4 years. Researchers also analysedresults of a survey, taken at the beginning of the investigation which looked at the typical food intake of each person, to see what percentage of calories
came from carbohydrates.

During the study 200 people developed a cognitive impairment or dementia. The results showed a link between an increased intake of calories from carbohydrates and the development of dementia. Those who got most of their calories from fats and proteins showed a reduced risk of developing dementia.

The researchers concluded that, “A dietary pattern with relatively high caloric intake from carbohydrates and low caloric intake from fat and proteins may increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia in elderly persons.”

While a link has been established, further research needs to be carried out in order to confirm a strong link between carbohydrates and dementia so that we can begin to take preventative measures by making changes to our diets.