Can Fruits and Veggies Keep Your Memory Strong?

Karen Barrow

Filling your plate with fruits and vegetables may not only be a good way to keep your body healthy, it can keep your brain going strong, too.

In yet another study uncovering the benefits of fruits and vegetables, researchers from Utah State University have found that elderly men and women who consume high amounts of these foods have better memories than those who skimp on the broccoli, spinach, apples and pears.

Dr. Heidi Wengreen, a lead investigator of the study, said that this research is the first of its kind to look at diet as a means to prevent dementia. The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia.

For the study, researchers tested the memory of over 5,000 seniors up to four times over an eight-year period. At the beginning, the participants also answered questions about their eating habits. The group of seniors with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables, five or more servings a day, scored higher on the test than the rest of the participants. Moreover, those who nibbled on plenty of veggies and fruit were able to maintain their memory over time.

"It appears that higher intake of fruits and vegetables may protect against memory loss in older adults." said Wengreen.

Previously, the same research group also found that taking daily vitamin E and C supplements also cuts the risk of Alzheimer’s. However, since the data was based on the dietary information given at the beginning of the study, Wengreen said that she is unable to say if the seniors who consumed a lot of fruits and vegetables continued to do so as the years passed.

Additionally, Wengreen also noted that the current guidelines recommend that adults eat five-and-a-half cups of fruits and vegetables every day, which is far from the amount that most American adults eat.

"Many Americans fall short of the current recommendations…even though we know they are good for us." said Wengreen, "Eating more fruits and vegetables in your later years offers benefits to both body and mind."

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