At Home Senior Care – What You Need to Know about Diet & Cognitive Decline

Research suggests that a healthy diet may contribute to brain health and slow the progression of cognitive decline in seniors

As we age, cognitive decline seems inevitable. It is common for seniors to experience some confusion, memory loss, or struggle with problem-solving and decision making. If your loved one is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to discuss these changes with their doctor.

However, if you’re interested in promoting brain health and preventing cognitive decline, there are easy lifestyle changes you can implement into your loved one’s at home senior care plan.

You just need to incorporate a Mediterranean Diet into your senior’s daily routine.  A diet? Yes, you heard that right. Overall health and wellness start with the foods we eat, so it makes sense that consuming brain and heart-healthy foods will promote brain and cardiovascular wellness.

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland showed that a Mediterranean diet may help with decreasing cognitive decline in seniors.

Can Brain Volume Loss be Prevented? 

In this study, researchers studied dietary habits and observed brain volume of 967 seniors over the three years period.

Participants went two times through an MRI scan – at the beginning of the study and in the end. An MRI scan allowed researchers to measure participants’ overall brain volume, grey matter volume, as well as the thickness of the cortex.

When the results of MRI scans were compared, here’s what researchers found out.

Over the three years period, a regular participant lost 1% of the brain’s volume whereas a participant who ate a Mediterranean diet lost only 0.5% of their brain volume.

What Foods Does a Mediterranean Diet Include?

If you want this diet to be the part of at home senior care, you should know what it consists of.

• High amounts of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and whole grains
• Low amounts of red meat and sugary foods
• Moderate amounts of fish, seafood, and dairy
• Spices and herbs as a replacement for salt
• Olive oil as a replacement for butter

A Mediterranean diet is also good for…

According to the Mayo Clinic, the Mediterranean diet also has a big effect on seniors’ cardiovascular health. Thanks to this diet, there is a lower risk of heart disease and cardiovascular mortality.

Besides that, the Mediterranean diet has been linked to decreasing the risk of certain cancers, and cognitive disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

If you want to reduce the chances of your loved one’s cognitive decline, a Mediterranean diet could be a good place to start.

However, changing one’s diet completely can be a challenging task, especially if your loved one isn’t open to new ideas.

And that’s where Visiting Angels at home senior care comes in handy. Our compassionate caregivers will assist with shopping, meal planning, and preparation, so your senior can start eating healthy.