Green Leafy Vegetables slows cognitive decline

[Jaque]

https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000004815
December 20, 2017
Nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables and cognitive decline
Prospective study
Abstract:
Objective: To increase understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the association, we investigated the individual relations to cognitive decline of the primary nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables, including vitamin K (phylloquinone), lutein, β-carotene, nitrate, folate, kaempferol, and α-tocopherol.

Methods This was a prospective study of 960 participants of the Memory and Aging Project, ages 58–99 years, who completed a food frequency questionnaire and had ≥2 cognitive assessments over a mean 4.7 years.

Results In a linear mixed model adjusted for age, sex, education, participation in cognitive activities, physical activities, smoking, and seafood and alcohol consumption, consumption of green leafy vegetables was associated with slower cognitive decline; the decline rate for those in the highest quintile of intake (median 1.3 servings/d) was slower by β = 0.05 standardized units (p = 0.0001) or the equivalent of being 11 years younger in age. Higher intakes of each of the nutrients and bioactives except β-carotene were individually associated with slower cognitive decline. In the adjusted models, the rates for the highest vs the lowest quintiles of intake were β = 0.02, p = 0.002 for phylloquinone; β = 0.04, p = 0.002 for lutein; β = 0.05, p < 0.001 for folate; β = 0.03, p = 0.02 for α-tocopherol; β = 0.04, p = 0.002 for nitrate; β = 0.04, p = 0.003 for kaempferol; and β = 0.02, p = 0.08 for β-carotene.

Conclusions Consumption of approximately 1 serving per day of green leafy vegetables and foods rich in phylloquinone, lutein, nitrate, folate, α-tocopherol, and kaempferol may help to slow cognitive decline with aging.

[slacker]

completely supports what most of us are doing. Top quintile of leafy green users in this study, based on recall, averaged 1.29 servings daily. Go leafy greens! And, drum roll, the researchers tested for ApoE status...

[Orangeblossom]

Just saw this on front page of newspaper here in UK. The article seemed to focus mainly on levels of Vitamin K from the green leafy veg.

Not the best newspaper- sorry! But the only one free to read here in case anyone wants to see how it was reported here in one of the tabloids. At least it may the message to a range of people

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5183987/g ... lzheimers/

DEMENTIA BATTLE One portion of green veg a day can help the elderly fight off Alzheimer’s, study claims
Research also said not smoking, staying mentally and physically active, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check and moderate boozing are 'all good for brain health'

Here is a slightly better paper with more info.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/healt ... 21726.html

[Orangeblossom]

Does anyone know if it said anything specific to APOE4?