Type of fat, not amount of fat, linked to cognitive decline in old age

June, 2012

A large four-year study of older women has found high amounts of saturated fat were associated with greater cognitive decline, while higher amounts of monounsaturated fat were associated with better performance.

Data from the Women's Health Study, involving 6,183 older women (65+), has found that it isn’t the amount of fat but the type of fat that is associated with cognitive decline. The women were given three cognitive function tests at two-yearly intervals, and filled out very detailed food frequency surveys at the beginning of the study.

Women who consumed the highest amounts of saturated fat (such as that from animals) had significantly poorer cognitive function compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts. Women who instead had a high intake of monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil) had better cognitive scores over time. Total fat, polyunsaturated fat, and trans fat, were not associated with cognitive performance.

The findings are consistent with research associating the Mediterranean diet (high in olive oil) with lower Alzheimer’s risk, and studies linking diets high in saturated fats with greater cognitive decline.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-05/bawh-wfw051712.php

Reference:

[2893] Okereke, O. I., Rosner B. A., Kim D. H., Kang J. H., Cook N. R., Manson JA. E., et al.
(2012). Dietary fat types and 4‐year cognitive change in community‐dwelling older women.
Annals of Neurology.

seniors

Lifestyle

Related News

Memory impairment more common in people with a history of cancer

Confirming earlier indications from small studies, a very large nationwide survey has found that people who have had cancer are 40% more likely to experience memory problems that interfere with daily functioning.

When estrogen helps memory, and when it doesn’t

Recent rodent studies add to our understanding of how estrogen affects learning and memory.

Insulin sensitivity may explain link between obesity, memory problems

Previous research has indicated that obesity in middle-age is linked to higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia in old age.

Compound in celery, peppers reduces age-related memory deficits

Inflammation in the brain appears to be a key contributor to age-related memory problems, and it may be that this has to do with the dysregulation of

Mental activity may slow cognitive decline initially, but speed up dementia later

A long-running study involving 1,157 healthy older adults (65+) who were scored on a 5-point scale according to how often they participated in mental activities such as listening to the radio, watching television, reading, playing games and going to a museum, has found that this score is correla

Friends, family detect early Alzheimer's signs better than traditional tests

Confirming earlier research, a study involving 257 older adults (average age 75) has found that a two-minute questionnaire filled out by a close friend or family member is more accurate that standard cognitive tests in detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s.

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acid may contribute to Alzheimer’s

Low levels of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, have been found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease, but the reason has not been known.

Career choice may determine where frontotemporal dementia begins

A review of brain imaging and occupation data from 588 patients diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia has found that among the dementias affecting those 65 years and younger, FTD is as common as Alzheimer's disease.

Cognitive decline is not simply a function of getting old

Findings from the long-running Religious Orders Study, from 354 Catholic nuns and priests who were given annual cognitive tests for up to 13 years before having their brains examined post-mortem, has revealed that even the very early cognitive impairments we regard as normal in aging are associa

Factors linked to cognitive deficits in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is known to increase the risk of cognitive impairment in old age.

Pages