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Beneficial effects of walnuts on cognition and brain Health
This 2020 article analyses the current evidence for the positive effects of walnuts on cognition and brain health. Chauhan & Chauhan (2020) have conducted animal and human studies that suggest both improvement of cognition and reduction in risk and/or progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) after supplementation with walnuts. In addition, the Chauhans have reported the beneficial effects of a diet with walnuts on memory, learning, motor coordination, anxiety, and locomotor activity. Other human clinical trials have associated walnut consumption with better cognitive performance and enhanced memory compared to baseline among adults. Furthermore, the findings from the Chauhans’ recent study on mice demonstrated that a walnut-enriched diet significantly improved antioxidant defense and decreased free radicals’ levels compared to a control diet without walnuts, suggesting walnuts can reduce oxidative stress and thus lower oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. Due to the additive or synergistic effects of walnut components for protection against oxidative stress and inflammation, walnuts could potentially decrease the risk or progression of other brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and depression, as well as of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. But since it takes many years for cognitive impairment and dementia to develop, the writers recommended early and long-term supplementation with walnuts as it may help to maintain cognitive function and may reduce the risk of developing, or delay the onset and/or slow the progression of, MCI and dementia. [NPID: walnuts, cognition, brain health, Alzheimer’s, AD, cognitive impairment, memory, antioxidant defense, free radicals, oxidative stress, stroke, depression, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia]
Year: 2020
