BRAIN FOOD: Could what you eat protect against Alzheimer's, Dementia, Stroke & Parkinson's ?
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Over the past decade a new fad diet has been popping up near daily on social media and in stores with little to no scientific research to back up their claims. Cohen, Marisa of Neurology Now shared that, "for at least the last century, doctors and researchers have seen a correlation between diet and the management of neurologic conditions such as epilepsy, dementia, and stroke. And while no single ingredient can magically cure neurologic diseases—no matter what you may read on the internet—several well-studied diet plans have been associated with a positive effect on the brain.
“Growing and compelling evidence from large longitudinal studies and randomized trials suggests that diet matters for brain health,” says Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPh, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “But a lot remains to be discovered,” he adds. “We need studies that also take into account existing diseases, neurologic and otherwise, as well as lifestyle, environment, physiological characteristics such as age, sex, and body mass, and genes. Because Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases develop over decades, maximal benefits will require early and prolonged dietary changes.”
In general, more studies need to be conducted to see how diet may affect the underlying processes of neurologic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, says Jennifer Rose Molano, MD, FAAN, associate professor of neurology at Cincinnati Academic Health Center.
We review the evidence for three diets for specific conditions. Before starting any new eating plan, discuss it with your neurologist, including whether to add wine if you are a nondrinker, and a dietitian who works with people with neurologic conditions." Learn more about the evidence for stroke, Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease diets with ability to assist with cognitive decline or other symptom relief by reading more of Marisa Cohen's article in Neurology Now.
Reference
Cohen, M. (2017). Brain FOOD Can the foods you eat enhance brain health, or even help
manage a neurologic condition? We spoke to the experts about popular diets and reviewed the evidence to find the answers. Neurology Now, June/July 2017 Volume 13 (issue 3), p 22-35.
