Dr. Mercola January 16 2002 4,479 views
Elderly individuals who consume a healthy diet may be less likely to suffer symptoms of dementia as they age.
The findings have implications for millions of people in the developing world who are living longer than ever, as they point to a modifiable risk factor for impaired mental functioning.
The study included more than 1,600 individuals aged 70 and older, who filled out a food questionnaire and took a test to measure mental function. Researchers then calculated nutrient intake and ranked individuals as having normal mental function or mild, moderate or severe deficits.
Overall, nearly one third of men and almost half of the women in the study had some type of mental deficit.
Studies have also shown that omega-3 fatty acids found in certain types of fish may also protect against cognitive deterioration.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition December 2001;55:1053-1058
Further support that following the right eating plan is one of the most important things you can do to not only put more years into life, but more quality into the years.
You want your life to be like one of the new lithium ion batteries. They work right up to the very end at full strength and then they just give up and die.
Unlike the standard alkaline batteries which slowly lose their strength over time and may operate on only 50% of their potential power for a significant percentage of their life time.
Related Articles:
Too Much Vitamin A Can Up Risk of Hip Fracture Who Needs Vitamins? Just One Extra Serving of Vegetables Lowers Heart Disease Risk One Third of Cancers Linked to Diet Antioxidants in Vegetables Slow Brain Aging
Too Much Vitamin A Can Up Risk of Hip Fracture
Who Needs Vitamins?
Just One Extra Serving of Vegetables Lowers Heart Disease Risk
One Third of Cancers Linked to Diet
Antioxidants in Vegetables Slow Brain Aging
Food is only part of the story behind dementia. I have short term memory loss due to known petrochemical exposure at least twice in the past two decades. In 1982, I walked into the house to grab my keys after a flea fogger (DDVP) was set off. Result: Coughed up blood for one year. Increasing problems with short term memory loss, confusion, inability to solve once simple problems including putting puzzles together with my young daughter, lost my sense of smell. The second time was in the late 1990's and was due to a floor stripper made by Minwax. I have since learned that both contained volatile organic compounds. Mixed xylene isomers were labeled in the Minwax floor stripper as a key ingredient and was in the insecticidal fumigant.
According to an Environmental Protection Agency handbook, entitled Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings, http://tinyurl.com/azj5oo :
"Pesticide poisoning is a commonly under-diagnosed illness in America today. Despite recommendations by the Institute of Medicine and others urging the integration of environmental medicine into medical education, health care providers generally receive a very limited amount of training in occupational and environmental health, and in pesticide-related illnesses, in particular...[p2 Introduction]
There is general agreement that prevention of pesticide poisoning remains a much surer path to safety and health than reliance on treatment. In addition to the inherent toxicity of pesticides, none of the medical procedures or drugs used in treating poisonings is risk-free.."
Petroleum distillates are the most commonly used solvents for lipophilic pesticides. Most insecticides are lipophilic. The distillates are mixtures of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and have low boiling points.
Sometimes specific hydrocarbons, such as toluene or xylene (strongly odiferous), are added to stabilize the solution of insecticide or make it more emulsifiable." Chapt. 18., p.19