Past research has linked eating walnuts to a reduced risk of breast cancer and improved sperm quality..

Now scientists say a diet high in walnuts may prevent or slow down Alzheimer's disease..

A team of scientists from the New York Institute for Basic Research and Disability, led by Dr. Abha Chauhan, published their results in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease..

Dr. Chauhan notes that in her previous study, she and her colleagues have already demonstrated that walnuts can protect brain cells from oxidative stress caused by beta-amyloid protein..

Since the accumulation of this protein in the brain plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, scientists wanted to study this point in more detail.. In their latest work, they analyzed the effects of a nut diet on learning, memory, anxiety, and motor function in mice with Alzheimer's disease..

For 9-10 months, the animals were fed personalized mixtures containing 6% or 9% crushed walnuts.. For humans, this is equivalent to eating 1-1.5 ounces of nuts per day.. For control, a group of mice with Alzheimer's disease was taken, which were not given nuts..

At the end of the study, all mice went through a series of experiments to evaluate their learning ability, spatial memory, motor coordination, and anxiety..

Improving brain functions.

Researchers say sick rodents fed walnuts showed significant improvement in all four measures compared to rodents fed the normal diet..

The team says this may be due to the nuts' high antioxidant content of about 3.7 mmol per ounce.. These substances helped protect animal nerve cells from oxidative stress and further degeneration.. In addition, nuts are a good source of alpha-linoleic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid that is good for the brain, heart, and blood vessels..

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease today. By 2050, this number will more than triple to 16 million people.. Who knows, maybe the latest research will provide the key to more effective treatment and prevention of this terrible disease.?

Dr. Chauhan concluded: “These are promising results that will lay the foundation for future research into the effects of nuts on Alzheimer’s disease in humans.. So far, this is a disease from which no one knows salvation.. We have added another grain to the growing body of scientific evidence supporting the cognitive benefits of walnuts.”.

Last year, the online medical publication Medical News Today reported on an interesting study, the authors of which proved that walnut oil can prevent cardiovascular events.. Another group of scientists suggested that walnuts improve the body's response to stress..

medbe. en.