Category: Longevity & Health

American researchers have concluded that older people who follow a Mediterranean diet (typically characterised by a high intake of fish, fruit, vegetables, legumes, cereals and unsaturated fat, a low intake of dairy and meat, and a moderate intake of alcohol), are less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and less likely to progress from MCI to Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Data from 1393 cognitively normal individuals, and 484 individuals with MCI, overall average age 77, was analysed for the study, and participants were followed for an average of over 4 years.

Over that period, 275 of the initially cognitively normal people, developed MCI. Compared to those people with only a low adherance to a Mediterranean diet, those with the highest adherance, had though, a 28% lower risk of doing so. Even those with a moderate adherance showed a 17% lower risk.

Over a similar period, 106 of the 484 individuals with MCI went on to develop AD. Again compared to those with only a low dietary adherance, people with the highest adherance showed a 48% lower risk of progressing from MCI to AD. Those with a moderate adherance showed a 45% lower risk.

(Mediterranean Diet and Mild Cognitive Impairment. JAMA Neurology, February 2009.)

American researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine, looking into the benefits of meditation, have discovered that regions of the brain responsible for regulation of our emotions, are larger in people who have been long-term meditators, compared to those who do not meditate. They used high resolution MRI to scan the brains of 22 participants, aged 30 to 71, all of whom had practised meditation extensively, and compared their scans with those of age-matched controls. Those who meditated had been doing so for between 5 and 46 years, most practised daily, sessions ranged from 10 to 90 minutes, and encompassed a variety of styles.

In the meditators, regions of the brain important in emotional regulation and response control, were significantly larger. Most of the regions identified were in the right hemisphere, associated with sustaining attention and therefore relevant in meditation. The researchers conclude that these enlargements may account for meditators’ ability to cultivate passive emotions, retain emotional stability and engage in mindful behaviour.

(The Underlying Anatomical Correlates of Long-Term Meditation: Larger Hippocampal and Frontal Volumes of Grey Matter. Neuroimage, 15 April 2009.)

A systematic review and meta-analysis by Italian researchers, suggests that adherence to a Mediterranean diet can provide protection against major chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Twelve studies, involving nearly 1.6 million people followed for periods ranging from 3 to 18 years, were analysed. The results showed that people who adhered strictly to the Mediterranean diet enjoyed significant health benefits, including a 9% decrease in overall mortality, a 9% decrease in death from cardiovascular disease specifically, a 13% reduction in incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, and a 6% reduction in cancer.

(Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Health Status: Meta-Analysis. BMJ September 2008.)

An American study has found that partners in happy marriages have lower blood pressure than single people. Blood pressure was monitored over a 24 hour period in 204 married and 99 single men and women. High marital quality was found to be associated with lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, less depression and higher satisfaction with life generally.

Single individuals however, had lower blood pressure than those in unhappy marriages. Having a supportive network of friends did not appear to moderate the effects of being single or unhappily married.

(Is There Something Unique About Marriage? The Relative Impact of Marital Status, Relationship Quality, and Network Social Support on Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Mental Health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, April 2008.)

A study assessing the link between fitness and mortality, has been completed by the US Veterans Affairs Medical Centre in Washington. Nearly 16 ooo men, the largest number ever known in such a trial, were given a standard treadmill test to assess exercise capacity. Testing was conducted between May 1983 and December 2006, and participants were then followed for an average of 7.5 years and death rates were recorded.

The study found that “highly fit” men had only half the risk of death compared to “low fitness” men. Those who achieved “very highly fit” status, had a 70% lower risk compared to the “low fit” category. The authors say the risk of death is halved, simply by taking a brisk 30 minute walk, 5 to 6 days per week.

(Exercise Capacity & Mortality in Black and White Men. Journal of Circulation, 22 January 2008.)