I am 51 years old, recently my memory started to decline. I am a vegetarian regularly, please ask the doctor if it has any effect on memory? (Nguyen Thi Dao, Hanoi)
Reply:
Nutrition plays an important role in brain and cognitive development. Accumulation of micronutrients and fat storage affects the maturation of the brain and nervous system (especially in the fetal and early childhood stages), cognition, dementia, and memory loss in old age.
Doctor asked if vegetarian diet affects the brain or memory, then you need to consider how the vegetarian diet, the frequency of the vegetarian diet and the food... In general, vegetarianism can be beneficial for the brain but can also negatively affect the brain, if the diet is not suitable.
Some studies suggest that a vegan diet may be beneficial in preventing neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (dementia). A plant-based vegan diet contributes to quercein, a natural monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor that may help prevent and reduce the risk of dementia.
The scientific vegan diet also contains less bad fats, which are saturated fats, trans fats, and low cholesterol, but with good fats like omega 3 and omega 6 to help the body reduce the risk of vascular diseases, dyslipidemia. Since then, vegetarians have good heart health, reduce the risk of stroke causing brain damage, dementia, and memory loss. Vegetarian diets are also rich in berries, nuts, whole grains, and green vegetables rich in vitamin E, which are beneficial for brain health.
A vegetarian diet with lots of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, low in bad fats. Image: Freepik
However, it should be noted that a vegetarian diet will cause deficiencies in some nutritional vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, calcium, and essential amino acids that the body needs. Therefore, when fasting, you should supplement with vitamins and minerals such as taking vitamin supplements, milk, and calcium. For good brain health, you also need to exercise regularly and get enough sleep, ensuring good quality sleep.
Memory impairment or dementia (Alzheimer's) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decline in memory and multiple cognitive domains, which interferes with the body's daily functioning. The disease is common in middle-aged and elderly people.
Vegetarian diets can include many types of diets such as a plant-based vegan (complete vegetarian, vegan), vegetarian but can eat eggs (ovo-vegetarian), vegetarian but can drink milk (lacto-vegetarian) or vegetarian but eat eggs - dairy (ovo-lacto-vegetarian) ...
Dr. Tran Thi Tra Phuong
Nutrihome Nutrition Clinic System
