A new study recently published in the “Journal of Alzheimer‘s Disease” has found that a walnut-enriched diet has positive effects on memory and motor development. Learn more about the study and the effects of walnuts on overall health.
A Walnut-Enriched Diet Can Improve Memory
A recent study completed by the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities found that mice who were fed a walnut-enriched diet had improved memory and motor development as well as a significant reduction in anxiety.
The study gave mice what would be the human equivalent of 1/4 cup of walnuts every day. Researchers then tested the mice to experiments and mazes that tested their coordination, psychomotor skills and learning ability. The mice that were fed a walnut-enriched diet performed significantly better than the mice who were not.
Lead researcher Abha Chauhan said that the most recent study follows up on a previous study that concluded that walnut extract could protect the brain from the beta amyloid protein, a protein that often appears in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s.
The study was recently published online in the “Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease” and was jointly funded by New York’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the California Walnut Commission.
Walnuts and Overall Health
Is it a coincidence that walnuts are shaped similarly to the human brain? We think not. Walnuts have several brain-boosting properties and are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are also known to fight Alzheimer’s. In addition, walnuts are extremely high in anti-oxidants which help with inflammation and can protect cells. Walnuts can also help the heart cope in times of stress and has been shown to reduce the of cardiovascular disease in men.
Other brain-boosting foods include:
- Broccoli
- Salmon
- Dark chocolate
- Blueberries
- Garlic
- Avocados
- Green vegetables
- Other varieties of nuts
Do you plan to include walnuts in your diet to help keep Alzheimer’s at bay? What other brain-boosting foods do you consumer? Share in the comments below.
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