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Dr. Kim Mulvihill Reporting Mom always said to "eat your veggies". This afternoon new research reminds us why mom is always right.
Who doesn't want to keep their brain as young as possible? This study suggests it's never too late to start.
Americans are growing older and so are our brains. That means trouble with our memories and our minds.
Howard Rosen, M.D., UCSF Memory & Aging Center: "How much of that is in our genes, how much of that is in things we eat, things we do our lifestyle choices we don't know all the answers yet?"
A new study funded by the Institute of Aging finds what you feast on may make a difference. Here's the food for thought: older people who eat more than two servings of vegetables a day appear to be five years younger when it comes to their brain. Researchers gave tests to nearly four thousand volunteers ages 60 to 70, over the course of five years. Those who ate a lot of veggies scored the highest.
Howard Rosen, M.D.: "What they found was that even at that age, changes in cognition over time were influenced by what people were eating.
Dr. Howard Rosen is a neurologist at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center. He says while the effects were small, the message is big when it comes to veggies.
Howard Rosen, M.D.: "Definitely good for your heart, helps to protect against cancer and now we're finding evidence we're increasingly finding evidence that it protects your brain."
The researchers did not find the same protective effects from fruit. They say vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables contain more natural vitamin e than fruits. And unlike fruit, veggies are typically eaten with added fats, such as salad dressings, which help our bodies better absorb vitamin E. But they don't know for sure.
Howard Rosen, M.D.: "There may be other nutrients in food that may be too complex to measure that may also contribute."
Even so, it's still a good reason not to forget to eat your veggies. Researchers caution not to exclude fruit from your diet. They say fruits have many health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer.
