Research Connects Diet and Waist-to-Hip Ratio in Midlife to Future Cognitive Function

Key Takeaways

The quality of diet in midlife is crucial for cognitive health.
Higher waist-to-hip ratios negatively affect brain function.
Healthy diets improve memory and executive function.
Midlife is a critical period for dietary interventions.
Long-term studies on diet and cognitive function are necessary.

New Delhi, March 14 (NationPress) A new study reveals that the quality of diet and waist-to-hip ratio during midlife play significant roles in influencing brain connectivity and cognitive abilities in later years. Conducted by researchers from Oxford University and University College London in the UK, the study indicates that individuals in midlife who adopt a healthy diet demonstrate enhanced hippocampal functional connectivity with the occipital lobe and cerebellum, alongside improved white matter integrity.

This healthy dietary pattern correlates with better working memory, enhanced executive function, and overall superior cognitive performance among middle-aged adults. Conversely, those exhibiting a higher waist-to-hip ratio during midlife showed a notable decline in white matter integrity, which adversely affects memory and executive function.

The research highlighted a connection between reduced fractional anisotropy in these brain regions and diminished cognitive performance.

According to the researchers, as published in JAMA Network Open, “A healthier diet and a lower waist-to-hip ratio during midlife are linked with better brain health in older age.”

It was noted that global changes in dietary practices have led to increased obesity rates, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, all of which heighten the risk of dementia.

While previous research has primarily focused on specific nutrients, the relationship between overall diet quality and body fat distribution over time requires further exploration.

Midlife has been identified as a crucial period for cognitive health interventions; however, substantial long-term evidence linking diet to brain connectivity is still scarce.

This study examined long-term dietary changes and waist-to-hip ratio to understand their effects on hippocampal connectivity and cognitive function in aging. A total of 512 participants were involved in the dietary quality analysis, while 664 were included in the waist-to-hip ratio analysis.

The results imply that strategies aimed at enhancing diet and controlling central obesity may be most beneficial for individuals aged 48 to 70 years.