Consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may guard against Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests. The finding stems from work conducted among roughly 1,200 dementia-free patients over the age of 65. All underwent blood tests to assess levels of a key Alzheimer's-associated protein after providing the study authors with a dietary breakdown dating back more than a year. "Past research has shown that, in this population, higher levels of the beta amyloid protein appear related to a … [Read more...]

People who eat white rice on a regular basis have a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, a new international analysis contends. Harvard School of Public Health researchers reviewed the findings of four previous studies conducted in the United States, Australia, China and Japan. None of the participants had diabetes at the start of the studies. Overall, the trials included more than 350,000 participants tracked anywhere from four to 22 years. Researchers led by Qi Sun found a … [Read more...]

Older people who eat too much are at risk for memory impairment, a new study contends. People 70 and older who eat between 2,100 and 6,000 calories a day may be at double the risk of these deficits in memory, which can be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, the study authors said. "Excessive daily caloric consumption may not be brain-health friendly," said lead researcher Dr. Yonas Geda, an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. "It may … [Read more...]