Fruits and Vegetables Protect Against Cognitive Decline

Diets high in fruits, vegetables, pulses (beans, lentils, peas), and nuts protect against cognitive decline, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging. Researchers compared test scores in verbal fluency, a measure of cognitive decline, in participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and tracked dietary intake, socioeconomic status, and other covariates. Those who consumed more than 0.5 servings of pulses/nuts and more than 3 servings of fruits/vegetables per day scored higher on the cognitive tests, compared with those who had less. The authors call for policies to address food access and obesity and hypertension risk to improve risk factors.