How Nutrition Affects Cognitive Health
Nutrition plays a critical role in cognitive health, influencing everything from brain function to memory to the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Key Nutrients for Cognitive Health
- B Vitamins: B Vitamins such as B6, B12, and folate support brain energy and reduce homocysteine levels. High homocysteine levels have been linked to an increased risk of developing dementia. Higher concentrations of B Vitamins are found in whole grains, eggs, and dairy.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: This key nutrient supports brain cell function and reduces inflammation. It’s found in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts.
- Antioxidants: This nutrient helps the body fight oxidative stress, which is linked to cognitive decline.
- Vitamin D: Among supporting many functions of the body, Vitamin D supports cognitive health and mood regulation. It can be taken as a supplement and found in fortified foods. The body makes Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight.
- Polyphenols: This key nutrient helps improve blood flow to the brain and boost memory function. Polyphenols are found in green tea, grapes and dark chocolate.
Memory-Boosting Diets: What Works Best?
- The Mediterranean Diet: Long touted for its many health benefits, the Mediterranean Diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and olive oil. Eating this way over a long period is linked to lower Alzheimer’s risk.
- DASH Diet: While the Dash Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) was initially designed for heart health and lowering blood pressure, it also supports brain function.
- The MIND Diet: The MIND Diet stands for Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. A combination of Mediterranean and DASH diets, the MIND Diet was specifically designed with the purpose of reducing cognitive decline.
Potentially Harmful Foods
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Consuming excess alcohol can damage the brain structure and cause memory loss over time.
- Sugary Drinks and Processed Foods: Both of these harmful dietary items increase inflammation. It’s hypothesized that this may increase memory problems.
- Trans Fats: These are found in many processed snacks and fried foods. Consuming trans fats has been linked to cognitive decline.
BayView: Southern California Senior Assisted Living
At Bay View Assisted Living, we strive to provide compassionate, individualized care, preserving our residents’ dignity at every stage of their Alzheimer’s journey. We’re committed to holistic care that engages our residents on emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical levels.
Safe and Secure Senior Living Community with Hospice Accommodations
At BayView, we promote safety with a secured perimeter environment and trained staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our beautiful assisted living home and surrounding grounds are equipped with surveillance cameras in all public and outdoor spaces. Our home and spacious grounds meet all ADA requirements including wide hallways, safety rails, shower chairs, and no lips or gaps at doorways. This allows for easy wheelchair and walker access, increasing ease of mobility for residents.
San Diego’s Top Memory Care and Senior Care Community
BayView Senior Assisted Living in Point Loma, California, is one of the top assisted living facilities in the greater San Diego area. We’re known for our compassionate caregivers, beautiful grounds, and personalized, individualized care. We consider it an honor to walk alongside families as they traverse the challenging and heartbreaking journey of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We understand that our residents’ holistic experience of life (social, spiritual, emotional, mental, physical) is incredibly important. Our compassionate caregivers provide top-notch, individualized care to each of the members of our memory care communities. Contact us to learn more.
