Does fish in Mediterranean diet combat memory loss?

This study assessed all the components together rather than focusing on oily fish alone, as the media suggests – in fact, the word 'fish' does not appear once in the Neurology article. Additionally, the 19% reduction in risk quoted by both The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail is incorrectly attributed to "people who adhere to a Mediterranean-style diet". This figure actually only applies to non-diabetic people. The risk reduction for the entire study sample was a more moderate 13% reduction in odds. However, both newspapers covered the main methods of the study well.   What kind of research was this? This was a prospective cohort study that assessed the relationship between how much people adhered to a Mediterranean diet and their odds of developing cognitive impairment over time. The Mediterranean diet involves eating lots of fruit, vegetables and olive oil, and eating few saturated fats, meat and dairy products. According to the study's authors, the diet has been associated with longer lifespan and a reduced risk of heart conditions, some cancers and Alzheimer's disease. It is the frequent subject of research into the influence of lifestyle on health and longevity. As a prospective cohort study, this research can tell us how people's diet is linked to new cases of cognitive impairment over time. It also confirms that diet preceded any change in cognitive function, a key factor in assessing causality.   What did the research involve? As part of the Re...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Neurology Source Type: news