Want to Stop Cognitive Decline? Wine and Cheese Could Help

A study from a team of Iowa State University researchers in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease determined that red wine, cheese, and a weekly serving of lamb could help reduce cognitive decline, reports Big Think . The team analyzed data from 1,787 adults and learned that earlier dieting affects the risk of cognitive decline later. They found cheese to be particularly helpful in protecting against age-related cognitive decline, along with daily consumption of alcohol, especially red wine. Eating lamb on a weekly basis, as opposed to other red meat, also appears to have a beneficial impact, while excess salt promotes cognitive deterioration over time. The researchers suggested calcium, vitamin B12, gut-friendly bacteria, and lactopeptides in cheese are potentially critical elements in the protective effect. Finally, the research found that volunteers with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's seemed to benefit the most from red wine consumption.