A new study has found that the traditional Japanese diet may have a protective effect on brain health, particularly for women. The study, which observed nearly 2,000 Japanese adults, compared the effects of the traditional Japanese diet to the Western diet on brain volume shrinkage and cognitive decline.
Researchers divided the participants into three groups based on their eating habits. Those who followed a traditional Japanese diet, which includes foods like miso, algae, soy, and green tea, had less brain shrinkage and slower cognitive decline compared to those following a Western diet. These effects were especially pronounced in women, while men did not show significant differences between the diets.
The study, published in the Nutrition Journal, monitored participants for two years to track the progression of cerebral atrophy and loss of neurons. The researchers also considered other factors like smoking, exercise, and other diseases that could impact brain health.
While the reasons for the beneficial effects of the traditional Japanese diet on women are not completely clear, researchers speculate that the presence of vitamins, polyphenols, and other antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances in the diet may play a role. Further studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses.
The findings add to the growing body of research on the health benefits of the traditional Japanese diet and its potential impact on cognitive health and dementia risk. These results may provide valuable insights for promoting brain health and healthy aging in the future.