Study: Walnut intake linked to healthy ageing in women
By: Team Ifairer | Posted: 03-03-2020
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Between 1998 and 2002, female nurses in the NHS were asked about their diet, including total nut consumption. They were evaluated for chronic diseases such as cancer, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The nurses were assessed for memory concerns, mental health and physical limitations, including daily activities like walking one block, climbing a flight of stairs, bathing, dressing oneself and pushing a vacuum cleaner.
Of the study participants, 16 per cent were found to be "healthy agers," defined as having no major chronic diseases, reported memory impairment or physical disabilities as well as having intact mental health, the researchers said. Although previous research has connected a healthy diet, including walnuts, to better physical function among older men and women, this study only included women, according to the researchers.
More research is needed to understand if these results hold true among men, they said.
Participants were not assigned to eat walnuts or other foods, and were simply asked about their dietary choices. The researchers noted that it is possible that subjects misreported their dietary intake since this information was collected by questionnaires. As an observational study, this does not prove cause and effect, according to the researchers.