Shift Work Linked to Accelerated Cognitive Aging, โDiet May Offer protection
New research suggests โฃa directโ connection betweenโ working irregular hours and faster cognitive โฃdecline, while bolstering evidence pointsโฃ to the Mediterranean โdiet as a โpotential preventative measure.
A โrecent study reveals that individuals โฃengaged in shift work may experience accelerated cognitive aging. Researchers utilized aโ combination of MRI brain scans and cognitive assessments to examine brain structure, function,โ and metabolism, finding aโ link between these โฃcerebral properties andโ cognitive abilities.As researcher Barbey explains, “This method allows us to build a more robust understanding of theโ relationship between these factors. We simultaneously examine the structure, function and metabolism of the brain, demonstrating a direct link between โคthese cerebral properties and the cognitive abilities.”
The findings align with a 12-year research โขproject from 2023 demonstrating that adherence to โขa Mediterranean diet is associated with less pronounced cognitive decline.
Researchers are now planning clinicalโ trials to investigate theโ long-term โขeffects of diet on brain โaging, โคwith the goal ofโ developing nutritional recommendations to reduce โฃthe risk of โฃneurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. The study has already โคidentified “specific profiles of โขpromising nutritional biomarkers, favorably associated with measures of cognitive performance and brain health,” suggesting that simple dietary modifications could be key toโ preserving cognitive function as we age.