Study Finds Fats in Butter, Eggs, Red Meat, and Cooking Oils Can Lower the Risk of Dementia
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Fats found in breakfast favorites like eggs could significantly reduce the risk of dementia, according to a recent study.
The fats, also found in cooking oils, butter, and red meat, are known as triglycerides. Higher triglyceride levels in the blood were found to be associated with a decreased risk of dementia. In a study involving older adults, those with high triglyceride levels were 18% less likely to develop dementia compared to those with half the amount.
Dr. Zhen Zhou from Monash University in Melbourne stated, “Higher triglyceride levels may reflect better health and lifestyle behaviors that protect against dementia. Our findings indicate that triglyceride levels could serve as a valuable predictor for dementia risk and cognitive decline in older populations.”
By the end of the decade, experts predict that the number of people living with dementia in the UK will rise from 944,000 to over a million. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and although incurable, there are promising drugs being tested to slow its progression. In the meantime, improving lifestyle habits remains crucial in the fight against the disease.
While high triglyceride levels may be associated with a lower risk of dementia, it’s important to note that these fats also come with their own risks. Triglycerides are found in food and produced by the liver, and they can either be used as energy or stored in fat deposits in the body. If triglyceride levels in the blood are too high, they can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and pancreatitis.
In this recent research, data from 86,000 adults over the age of 65 in the UK, US, and Australia was analyzed. After 12.5 years, 2,778 of the participants had developed dementia. Across the group, higher triglyceride levels within the “normal to high-normal range” were associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Dr. Zhou suggests that future studies should explore the specific components within triglycerides that may promote better cognitive function, as this could help in the development of new preventive strategies.
