Scientists are finding that what is good for the heart, may be good for the brain also. Science proposes that vascular related functions play an important role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia and generally age related cognotive decline.
Alzheimer’s is an unrepairable brain degeneration, that causes disruptions in memory, personality disorders and other complications that end in death from a complete brain failure.
According to science and research, diet plays a very important role in the prevention of Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.
A Northern Manhatan Study, conducted in 2006 and monitored the diet of 1800 New Yorkers, proved that the Mediterranean diet with the olive oil basic ingredient, decreased the risk of Alzheimer’s and the mortality rate in Alzheimer’s patience.
A closer analysis of this study, showed that the participants who followed the Mediterranean diet closely, decreased their risk of developing the Alzheimer’s disease by 40%.
Although Alzheimer’s is a genetic disease, it is believed that diet and excercise may have a possitive impact on the brain’s functions and health.
Parkinson’s disease, like Alzheimer’s, are age related disorders with biological and biochemical features.
A study conducted by Dutch researchers, evaluated 5300 peoples’ diets for over 6 years, to determine if the high intake of unsaturated fatty acids, can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s. The results of the study proposed that monounsaturated fatty acids, protect against Parkinson’s. The Mediterranean diet and olive oil are the keys to the reduction of Parkinson’s.
Scientists studied how oxidative stress effects the age related decline of the brain. They explored how the consumption of antioxidant rich foods would have an impact on cognitive decline. The results showed that the consumption of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet, has reduced the occurance of neurodegenerative diseases. Polyphenols and oleic acid in olive oil, protect the brain from cognitive decline.
As people climb the ladder of age, it seems that the brain needs more monounsaturated fatty acids to prevent degradation.