A study by the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology has explored the connection between dietary habits and brain volume changes in Japanese adults, focusing on the impact of different diets on middle-aged and older women's brain health. Over a two-year period, 1,636 participants were monitored through dietary records and MRI scans to identify sex-specific dietary patterns and their effects on brain atrophy. For men, the patterns identified were Western, Vegetable-Fruit-Dairy, and Traditional Japanese, while women exhibited Western, Grain-Vegetable-Fruit, and Traditional Japanese diets.
Notably, women adhering to the Traditional Japanese diet showed a slower rate of total gray matter atrophy compared to those following a Western diet, indicating a potential protective effect against brain health deterioration. This aligns with previous studies linking Mediterranean-like diets and higher magnesium intake to better brain structure and reduced risks of cognitive impairments. However, no significant association was found between men's dietary patterns and brain atrophy, suggesting gender differences in diet-brain volume relationships and highlighting the need for further research in this area.
The study emphasizes the importance of diet in brain health and the potential gender-specific impacts, urging more research to fully understand these dynamics and inform dietary recommendations for cognitive decline prevention.
Source: naturalsciencenews.com
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