Healthier Diets Linked to Less Mental Decline

People who eat healthier diets may also be less likely to lose mental sharpness as they get older, a new study finds. The study included nearly 28,000 older adults from 40 countries. Researchers gave them tests of mental sharpness and asked them questions about diet. Then they kept track of people for about 5 years. In that time, tests showed that 14% of those with the healthiest diets had a decline in thinking and memory. Among people with the least healthy diets, 18% suffered declines. Better diets were those that included more fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and soy. Diets classified as poorer in quality included those with more red meat, deep-fried foods, alcohol and sweets. The study was not able to show whether diet actually caused the difference between the 2 groups.