Diet and Exercise May Ward Off Dementia

Photo: fdecomite, Flickr

Following up an intense workout with a dinner of fish and veggies may be the best one-two punch against Alzheimer's disease. Movie and a steak dinner? Not so much. New observational research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals the power of the Mediterranean diet and regular exercise to reduce your risk for developing Alzheimer's disease in later years.

Researchers interviewed 1,880 elderly subjects about their diets and physical activity habits, then observed them for about five and a half more years. Average age at study start was 77. Subjects who were very physically active had a 33 percent risk reduction of developing Alzheimer's, while those who stuck closely to a Mediterranean-type diet had 40 percent less risk. The knockout punch was clearly combining both -- participants had a 60 percent risk reduction when they were exercising a lot and sticking closer to a Mediterranean-style diet comprised of lots of fish, veggies, legumes, fruits, cereals, monounsaturated fatty acids, moderate alcohol consumption and lower intake of dairy/meats/saturated fats.

A second, shorter-term observational study in France has found some correlation between this diet and slower cognitive damage. Hmm ... don't wait for your AARP card to begin eating right and moving more. Making the choice to look and feel great today could mean keeping your marbles later.

And if this good news hasn't brightened your mood, check out the mental health benefits of exercise over at AOL Health.