Eating Fruits And Vegetables Has Varied Effect On Age-Related Cognitive Impairment

A French study probing the relationship between intake of fruits and vegetables and age-related cognitive impairment found that the effect varied depending on the type of impairment and the kind of fruits and vegetables consumed. Researchers followed 2.533 people who were 45 to 60 years old at the start of the 13-year study. Cognitive performance was tested in various ways at the end of the study. Researchers found that eating fruits and vegetables, just fruit, vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, vitamin C and vitamin E were positively associated with verbal memory scores. But eating fruits and vegetables, vegetables alone, and β-carotene–rich fruits and vegetables was negatively associated with executive functioning scores. Researchers said further research was needed to “clarify the effect of individual fruit and vegetable groups and nutrients.”