Carrots Prevent Senile Dementia
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Vegetables with a bright coloring contain substances that improve the work of the brain in old age, experts from the University of Georgia said. These substances are known as carotenoids, the zeaxanthin and lutein included in this group help to improve the mental activity and vision of the elderly. Previously, experts did not know how carotenoids affect the brain and human vision and researchers from the state of Georgia decided to eliminate this gap in science. In their study, they used functional magnetic resonance imaging, which evaluated the brain activity of the participants in the experiment (65 to 86 years). During the procedure, participants needed to remember the phrases they had memorized earlier. After analyzing the scores of the tomogram, the scientists found that people with high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin needed less brainpower to perform their tasks.
The level of the compounds studied was determined by experts in the blood and retina of the participants in the experiment.
Professor Lindberg, who participated in the study, noted that the brain wears out with age, but our body is unique, and wear is compensated for by increasing brain power, so participants in the body who had a low level of zeaxanthin and lutein made more effort to remember, and then remember the necessary phrases. According to scientists, in the elderly, the brain of the elderly uses more departments and the power to memorize, but just the compounds contained in bright vegetables and plants help to correct the situation .
The experts plan to study the effectiveness and ability to improve the cognitive functions of a diet, which includes a large number of products with a high content of carotenoids, as well as food additives with these compounds.
In another study, scientists found that the work of our intestines depends on the work of the brain, and yogurt with probiotics help improve brain activity. Such conclusions scientists made after the study, in which women took part. All the experts were divided into several groups, each of which was fed on a certain diet, which included yogurts with probiotics or dairy products, and one of the groups used their usual diet. After a certain time, the researchers analyzed the condition of women and found out that women who consumed yoghurts with probiotics became healthier, they had improved performance, and they became calmer. In women who consumed dairy products, the results were neutral, in a group where they did not change their usual diet, the condition of women remained the same as before the experiment. According to scientists, the results of the study indicate that the work of the brain and the work of the intestines are connected, and the emotional state of a person depends on digestion.
Probiotics are a group of bacteria that improve the work of the whole body, increase the protective properties of the body, prevent the development of certain infections, have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and skin, improve metabolism, and protect against toxins. They are found in chocolate, muesli, dairy products, yoghurts.
[