Eating walnuts every day can reduce the risk of dementia by 12%: study

Believe it or not, middle-aged and older adults who eat walnuts daily may significantly lower their risk of dementia, a new study has found.

An international team of researchers had 50,300 UK adults, mostly in their mid-50s, complete a questionnaire about their nut consumption habits, before following them for an average of seven years to see if they had dementia.

About 1,400 cases of dementia were identified. After accounting for factors such as age, sex, body mass, education and lifestyle, the researchers determined that consuming nuts on a daily basis reduced the risk of dementia by 12%.

The benefits were even greater for those who chose unsalted nuts and ate up to a handful, or 40 grams, each day – in which case the risk of dementia was reduced by 16%.

The findings were published in September in the journal Geroscience.

Research has long linked a poor diet to an increased risk of dementia.

Obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol in middle age are among the 14 modifiable lifestyle factors.

Experts have suggested that the Mediterranean, DASH and MIND diets, which are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, may be best for brain health.

Nuts are a key component of all three eating plans.

Writing last year in the journal Nutrients, researchers from Spain reported that walnuts “are a nutrient-dense food containing a variety of potentially neuroprotective components, including polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, B vitamins, sodium-free minerals and many bioactive polyphenols.”

They also called walnuts “the most promising type of nut for cognitive health.”

An orthopedic surgeon recently said he likes to eat walnuts because they contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help brain development and function.

Researchers at the National Institute on Aging found that eating walnuts can help improve memory in Alzheimer’s patients.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older Americans.

Nearly 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, according to a recent study that warned millions more likely have symptoms but have not been formally diagnosed.

The number of people living with dementia worldwide is expected to increase from 57 million in 2019 to 153 million by 2050 thanks to an aging population.