After conducting long-term 10-year studies of memory retention and mental clarity in people over 80, scientists from Rush University in Chicago concluded that adding green vegetables or lettuce to the daily diet was the easiest way to maintain mental capacity in old age.
All 960 study participants without dementia were divided into two categories: those who ate at least half a bowl of green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, or lettuce) per day, and those who hardly ate them.
The study participants were tested annually on thinking and memory throughout the study period.
In the study, scientists found that cognitive decline in all participants, but significantly slower in those who regularly ate leafy greens.
The difference was approximately 11 years, i.e. many of the first group retained a firm memory and clear mind throughout the entire period of the study.
Scientists don't know exactly which nutrients are responsible for this differentiation, but they speculate that vitamin K, which is abundant in leafy green vegetables, may contribute. So adding green vegetables or lettuce to your daily diet is the easiest way to maintain your mental capacity in old age. However, according to the latest report from the National Health Service (NHS) this year, only one in four adults eat the recommended portions of fruits and vegetables per day.
Projections predict a sharp increase in the incidence of dementia as the number of people in the oldest age group continues to rise, so effective prevention strategies are critical.
Although the study only focused on people without dementia, it was nonetheless welcomed by the Alzheimer's Society.
Promotional video:
The study's findings remain valid after considering other factors that can affect brain health, such as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, educational level, and amount of physical and cognitive activity.
Earlier this year, a large global study found that three servings of fruits and vegetables a day increased life expectancy. Studies of more than 130,000 adults showed that moderate consumption was enough to reduce mortality by more than one-fifth.
Serg kite