The Alzheimer’s Association reports that women age 60 and older are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s compared with breast cancer, and of the 5 million people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s in the U.S., 3.2 million are women. While the statistics are shocking, there is hope.
Walnuts contain various nutrients that may benefit brain health. Recent research examined the long-term intake of nuts, including walnuts, in relation to cognition in older women using data from the Nurses’ Health Study. Based on a sample of 15,467 women age 70 or older, higher long-term total nut intake, including walnuts, was associated with better average cognitive skills. In conclusion, the research suggests higher nut intake may be related to better overall cognition at older ages, however, because the study population was with older women, additional research is required before generalizing to a larger population.
This June, the Alzheimer’s Association is helping to spread global awareness of their vision of a world without Alzheimer’s, encouraging everyone to “Go Purple” on June 21 to show their support to end Alzheimer’s. Get a jump on going purple by making these sweet, brain-boosting Chocolate Walnut Curried Truffles by Chef Rebecca Katz, author of The Longevity Kitchen.
