Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for helping to keep cognitive decline away.
Unfortunately, many older adults experience food insecurity, which can greatly impact their cognitive abilities. Research has found that compared to older adults who are food secure, those who experience food insecurity show a more significant cognitive decline over time.
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Understanding the consequences of chronic hunger on aging is important to support our elderly population best. Read on to learn more about the connection between food insecurity and decreased mental capacities in older age.
The new article published in The Journal of Nutrition analyzed a sample of older adults in the United States using National Health and Aging Trends Study data. The study ran for approximately eight years, starting in 2012, and participants reported their experiences with food insecurity.
They were classified as either food sufficient or food insufficient. It was found that food-insecure adults experienced cognitive declines more rapidly than food-secure adults. The greater cognitive decline rate observed in the insecure food group was equivalent to 4.5 years older, while the food secure group was 3.8 years older.
“For an aging population, roughly four years of brain aging can be very significant,” explained lead researcher Muzi Na. “These results really point to the importance of food security for people as they age and the value SNAP can have in improving people’s cognitive health. We need to make sure that people have access to—and encourage them to use—the SNAP program as they age.”
As this study goes to show, food insecurity can cause more harm than some may think. Aside from cognitive decline, food insecurity has also been suggested to add to depression and malnutrition, among many other health conditions.
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Future studies are needed to investigate the impact of food insecurity and promoting food programs such as SNAP on cognitive decline.
Promoting Brain Function
While some degree of cognitive decline is nearly inevitable as you age, this study shows how other factors can take a toll on the ability of the brain to function at peak potential. This can affect memory, concentration, and overall brain function.
The Smart Pill can help to enhance cognitive function and memory through 9 ingredients that help to support, nourish, and maximize brain health. These include ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, bacopa extract, rosemary extract, and a B vitamin complex. The formulation of these ingredients is an excellent way to help fight free radicals, boost circulation, and provide nutritional support to assist with cognitive function.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
