Aiding Cognitive Health in Overweight Adults
A recent study indicates that strawberries could play a role in reducing the risk of dementia in adults struggling with excess weight. EurekAlert reported that the research involved 30 middle-aged, overweight adults who self-reported experiencing mild cognitive impairment. Over the course of 12 weeks, they observed a reduction in memory issues and fewer depressive symptoms by consuming strawberries daily.
This study conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving five men and 25 women. One group consumed a strawberry-based powder, while the other received a placebo powder. The findings revealed that participants who consumed the whole fruit strawberry powder experienced a decrease in "intrusion errors" during a word list learning task over the 12-week intervention.
Memory issues are a common sign of late-life dementia, and the reduced occurrence of these problems in the group taking whole strawberry fruit powder is a significant finding. Furthermore, those who consumed the complete strawberry fruit powder reported a decrease in depressive symptoms, implying that strawberries may have a positive impact on emotional well-being.
Lead researcher Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, highlighted the challenges of dementia, which encompasses various diseases with no known cures. The primary approach to addressing these conditions currently involves prevention and mitigation through dietary and lifestyle choices.
Excess Weight, Elevated Risk of Dementia
While dementia primarily leads to a substantial decline in cognitive function and is not directly associated with one's weight, Interesting Engineering reported that there is evidence suggesting a potential connection between excess weight and an elevated risk of dementia.
Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases are more prevalent in individuals with obesity, affecting the brain's blood supply and potentially increasing the risk of vascular dementia.
Chronic inflammation, often linked to obesity, may also impact brain function and is associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, excess weight can induce insulin resistance, further affecting brain function and potentially elevating the risk of cognitive decline.
The researchers further explained that due to the belief that dementia develops over several decades, they specifically focused their study on middle-aged, overweight individuals. This choice was motivated by the connection between being overweight and inflammation, which is recognized as a contributing factor to cognitive decline.
Previous investigations into the connection between strawberry consumption and brain health have been conducted extensively, both in population-based and clinical research settings. For example, studies carried out at Rush University have revealed a correlation between a reduced risk of Alzheimer's dementia and the presence of a bioactive compound predominantly found in strawberries.
Moreover, long-term observational studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Study, have indicated that regular strawberry consumption is associated with lower rates of cognitive decline. The whole study is published in Nutrients Journal.
