Advertisement

5 nutrients good for brain health that can delay dementia, or prevent it, and foods to eat with a high concentration of them

  • We all know the benefits for our bodies of healthy eating. Now studies suggest our diet should include some key nutrients that help maintain cognitive function
  • Experts explain how they protect our brains – and the good news is you don’t need to buy supplements to get these nutrients. They are in everyday food items

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Research has identified some key nutrients we need in our diets to maintain good cognitive function and delay or prevent the onset of dementia. Photo: Shutterstock
This is the 16th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.
Advertisement

Eating well is important for general health and it can be especially good for our brains. Studies have pointed to specific nutrients that play a big role in supporting brain health and cognition.

Vitamin D

A collaboration between Britain’s University of Exeter and the University of Calgary in Canada found a positive link between vitamin D consumption and dementia prevention.

Eating healthy isn’t just good for our bodies, it’s good for our brains, too. Photo: Shutterstock
Eating healthy isn’t just good for our bodies, it’s good for our brains, too. Photo: Shutterstock
The study found a diet deficient in vitamin D was linked to an increase in the risk of dementia. People with genetic deficiencies in vitamin D are more likely to get Alzheimer’s disease, according to Zahinoor Ismail, of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary.
Vitamin D supplementation was linked with a 33 per cent lower incidence of dementia over 10 years, says study co-author Dr Byron Creese, a senior lecturer in neuroscience at Exeter University.
Zahinoor Ismail, of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary. Photo: University of Calgary
Zahinoor Ismail, of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary. Photo: University of Calgary

“We think that earlier intervention, that is taking [vitamin D supplements] before cognitive changes occur, is better,” Creese says.

Advertisement
SCMP Series
[ 16 of 49 ]
Advertisement