AJCN: eating walnuts helps reduce cognitive impairment

January 30, 2020 / BIOON / - eating walnuts may help reduce cognitive decline in high-risk groups, according to a study by researchers in California and Spain A study published in American Journal of clinical nutrition this month found that eating walnuts in the past two years has little effect on cognitive function of healthy elderly people, but for the elderly who smoke a lot, eating walnuts has a greater impact on their cognitive function The study examined nearly 640 elderly people who were able to move freely in lomarinda, California and Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain For two years, the test group included walnuts in their diet, while the control group did not Walnuts, which contain omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols, have previously been found to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are driving cognitive decline Dr Joan Sabat é, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the school of public health at Loma Linda University, who led the study, said it was the largest and most controlled trial ever of the effects of nuts on cognition "Further investigation is needed based on our findings, especially for vulnerable groups, as they may benefit the most from walnuts and other nuts." Sabat é and his team at Loma Linda University were the first to find that eating nuts, especially walnuts, has a cholesterol lowering effect The results were first published in the New England Journal of medicine in 1993 Later, researchers at Loma Linda University found a link between nut consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease Sources of information: walnuts may slow collaborative deceline in at risk eldelly original sources: aleix Sala Vila et al Effect of a 2-year-diameter intervention with walnuts on collaborative deceline The walnuts and healthy aging (waha) study: a randomized controlled trial The American Journal of clinical nutrition, 2020; doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz328