January/February 2006
HEALTH BYTES

High folate intake maintains brain health

A recent report noted that consuming adequate amounts of folate, a type of B vitamin, helps slow cognitive decline in older people. In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 300 men aged 50 to 85 and found that higher dietary and blood folate levels appeared to protect against a decline in spatial copying and verbal fluency, two measures of cognitive function. A previous study of this same group found that people with high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid naturally occuring in the blood, scored lower on cognitive tests.
Adequate folate has also been found to protect against neural tube defects and cardiovascular disease. The best dietary sources of folate are dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and chard, dried beans and peas, and fortified whole grains and citrus juices.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2005