Comments on: No Protection Against Mental Decline as We Age? Say It Ain’t So!

By: Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.

Alexa Fleckenstein M.D. — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:31:41 +0000

You put your finger on the sore point: It is too expensive to do long-term studies that - let’s face it - make no money for the big funding agents, namely drug firms.

But population studies of native people and religious groups that follow mostly vegetarian diets have shown that thry do better, health-wise.

We know already what to do - I am all with the Mediterranean diet. Now we just have to do it. And teach it.

Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:18:05 +0000

This is why we need to do lab experiments. Im not sure what has been done on this but maybe there has been experiments on rats etc. More omega 3 = less brain degradation perhaps. This would suggest protective effects. As you stated the main problem with the studies you mention is controlling ALL the variables. There are so many confounding factors. One person might be eating lots of fish, but not do anything in terms of training the brain thus negating what they eat.

By: NeuroKüz

NeuroKüz — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:40:27 +0000

Enjoyed reading your post. A trend in research seems to suggest lifestyle factors that are good for physical health are also good for mental health. It’s hard to imagine that a combination of exercise and a healthy diet wouldn’t offer benefits to the brain which is so intricately connected with the body.

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:43:43 +0000

Alexa, I remember reading all about those healthy groups in Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zones” book.

-Steve