Preparing food at home at least once a week could cut the risk of dementia by more than a quarter, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that people who cooked regularly were significantly less likely to develop the disease, while the greatest benefits were seen in those with little experience in the kitchen.
The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, followed 10,978 people over the age of 65 for a six-year period, until 2022. Participants were assessed for their cooking skills, allowing comparison between cooking frequency and dementia risk.
The results showed that men who cooked regularly had a 23% lower risk, while women had a 27% lower risk, compared to those who did not cook.
More interestingly, the greatest benefits were seen in people with little cooking skills – they had up to a 67% lower risk, perhaps due to the mental stimulation that comes from learning new skills.
Researchers point out that the more often a person cooks, the more the risk decreases, suggesting that creating conditions for older people to cook for themselves could help prevent dementia.
The study included assessing basic skills such as peeling fruits and vegetables and preparing meals. About half of the participants reported cooking five times a week.
During the study period, about 1,195 people developed dementia. However, the authors point out that the study was observational, so the cause of this effect cannot be directly proven.
They add that some mild cases may not have been recorded and that results may vary according to cultures and dietary patterns.
Meanwhile, the link between diet and brain health has been supported by other studies. The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a 23% reduction in the risk of dementia, while the so-called MIND diet (a combination of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet) is believed to help slow down brain damage associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
This diet includes foods like green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, olive oil, and fish.
Experts emphasize that promoting healthy eating habits and activities such as cooking could be a simple and effective way to combat the increase in dementia cases in aging populations. /GazetaExpress/
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