Reduce your risk of dementia? Eat potatoes more often, scientists say.
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A growing number of people in the Netherlands are living with dementia: currently, some 310,000 people in the Netherlands live with the brain disorder. A healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of dementia, and apparently, eating potatoes more often can, as researchers in China have discovered.
Researchers at Hebei Medical University have concluded that 1.22 mg of copper per day significantly helps prevent dementia . And 1.22 mg of copper is the equivalent of two medium-sized potatoes. Those who aren't fans of potatoes needn't worry, though: liver, shellfish (such as oysters), nuts (such as cashews and almonds), seeds (such as sunflower seeds), legumes, whole grains, dark chocolate, and certain fruits and vegetables also contain copper.
The study examined the health of 2,420 American adults. It examined how dietary copper intake affected their cognitive function, particularly in participants who had suffered a stroke . A stroke can significantly increase the risk of dementia .
The participants were followed for four years, and at the end of the study period, the researchers concluded that people who consumed the most copper also had the highest cognitive scores. "Our findings suggest a potential association between dietary copper intake and improved cognitive function in American older adults, particularly those with a history of stroke," the researchers wrote.
According to lead author and Professor Wiai Jia, you can add copper to your diet through potatoes, but also through other foods naturally rich in copper, such as whole grains and beans.
"Copper in the diet is crucial for brain health," he argues. This is thought to be because copper, a naturally occurring trace element, stimulates the release of iron , which in turn helps transport oxygen throughout the body and protects the brain from cognitive decline.
In addition, this nutrient is important for healthy immune function, hair pigment formation, connective tissue, and bone health. According to researchers, copper-rich foods may help regulate the release of neurotransmitters in the brain that are closely linked to learning and memory.
At the same time, they also raise an important caveat: they emphasize that more research is needed to definitively confirm the findings. A major drawback of the study, they say, is that participants had to self-report their dietary intake, rather than having a researcher do so.
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