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

Alzheimer's memory problems originate with oligomers not plaques

While everyone agrees that amyloid-beta protein is part of the problem, not everyone agrees that amyloid plaques are the cause (or one of them) of Alzheimer’s. Other forms of amyloid-beta have been pointed to, including floating clumps called oligomers or ADDLs.

More evidence for benefits of Rapamycin

A few months ago, I reported on an exciting finding that

New guideline on when people with Alzheimer's disease should stop driving

The American Academy of Neurology has updated its guidelines on when people with dementia should stop driving.

New gene associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's

Another gene has been identified that appears to increase risk of Alzheimer’s. The gene, MTHFD1L, is located on chromosome six.

Losing muscle mass early sign of Alzheimer’s

Previous research has found that unexplained weight loss is an early sign of Alzheimer's.

Memory problems not the only predictor of later mild cognitive impairment

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment often leads to Alzheimer's disease, but what predicts aMCI?

Apple juice improves behavior in Alzheimer's patients

A pilot study involving 21 institutionalized individuals with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s found that, although drinking two 4-oz glasses of apple juice daily for a month produced no change in the Dementia Rating Scale or in the Activities of Daily Living measure, there was a significant (27%)

TMS improves language comprehension in Alzheimer's sufferers

A pilot study involving 10 patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease, of whom half were randomly assigned to the treatment, has found that two weeks of receiving daily (25 minute) periods of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the prefrontal

Common Alzheimer's medication helps skills necessary for safe driving

A study involving outpatients with early stage Alzheimer’s found that their performance on some computerized tests of executive function and visual attention, including a simulated driving task, improved significantly after three months of taking

Cognitive ability, not age, predicts risky decisions

A study involving 54 older adults (66-76) and 58 younger adults (18-35) challenges the idea that age itself causes people to become more risk-averse and to make poorer decisions.

Pages