Study questions red meat impact on memory
The study, carried out by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, was based on data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, which collected dietary information from 17,478 African-Americans and Caucasians and tracked health changes.
It found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and chicken, but low in red meat, saturated fat and dairy, were 19% less likely to develop problems with memory.
However, the researchers admitted that while the research suggested diet was important, other lifestyle factors such as taking exercise and avoiding smoking could have influenced the preservation of cognitive functionality.
