Cutting Calories May Improve Memory
Cutting calories may improve memory among healthy seniors, according to a new study. German researchers found that people who cut their calorie intake by approximately 30 percent performed better on standard memory tests.
Diets low in calories and rich in unsaturated fatty acids have long been said to benefit brain function. In this study, a pool of 50 normal- to overweight individuals (average age 60) was divided into three groups: one group restricted by up to 30 percent the amount of calories they consumed; a second group increased their consumption of unsaturated fatty acids by up to 20 percent; and a third group made no changes.
The calorie-restricted group saw a 20 percent average increase in verbal memory scores after three months, while no significant changes in memory performance were documented in the two other groups.
With memory loss being such a complex problem, restricting calorie intake appears to be a viable potential solution. And a simple one, at that.
Click on the link to read the entire study from the National Academy of Sciences.