Alzheimer's Society - More New Evidence Fish and Vegetables Prevent Dementia

Today the BBC News has an article titled "Healthy Diet Cuts Dementia Risk," subtitled "More evidence that a diet rich in oily fish and vegetables can reduce the chances of dementia later in life has been uncovered by scientists."

The Mediterranean Diet has long been known to help protect against dementia. Several new studies showed beta-carotene, which contains anti-oxidents, helps the brain avoid damage.

The article explains a study with 8,000 participants. The ones who ate a diet high in omega-3, an oil found in fish, had a higher percentage of avoiding dementia. People who ate fish once per week had a 40% less chance of dementia during the four years of the study. Eating fruit and vegetables reduced dementia risk by 35%.

Another study followed 4,000 participants for 18 years. Half of the participants who took beta-carotene, the chemical that gives carrots their color. The participants who took beta-carotene scored much higher on mental tests.