Shift Work Linked to Accelerated Cognitive Aging, Diet May Offer protection
New research suggests a direct connection between working irregular hours and faster cognitive decline, while bolstering evidence points to the Mediterranean diet as a potential preventative measure.
A recent study reveals that individuals engaged in shift work may experience accelerated cognitive aging. Researchers utilized a combination of MRI brain scans and cognitive assessments to examine brain structure, function, and metabolism, finding a link between these cerebral properties and cognitive abilities.As researcher Barbey explains, “This method allows us to build a more robust understanding of the relationship between these factors. We simultaneously examine the structure, function and metabolism of the brain, demonstrating a direct link between these cerebral properties and the cognitive abilities.”
The findings align with a 12-year research project from 2023 demonstrating that adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with less pronounced cognitive decline.
Researchers are now planning clinical trials to investigate the long-term effects of diet on brain aging, with the goal of developing nutritional recommendations to reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. The study has already identified “specific profiles of promising nutritional biomarkers, favorably associated with measures of cognitive performance and brain health,” suggesting that simple dietary modifications could be key to preserving cognitive function as we age.
