Eating a handful of nuts a day can lower the risk of developing dementia, research shows

A handful of nuts a day could prevent dementia, according to a groundbreaking study.

Eating just 30 grams of unsalted and unprocessed nuts reduces the risk of developing the condition by 12 percent, the team of Spanish and Portuguese researchers found.

The benefits are most pronounced for women, people over 60 years of age and people without other risk factors such as obesity or high alcohol consumption.

The research analyzed more than 50,000 Britons over seven years using data from the UK Biobank study and the Oxford WebQ questionnaire.

Nuts were thought to play a ‘protective role’ in preventing the disease, due to multiple effects, such as reducing inflammation and cholesterol.

Eating just 30 grams of unsalted and unprocessed nuts reduces the risk of developing the condition by 12 percent (stock photo)

The research analyzed more than 50,000 Brits over seven years using data from the UK Biobank study and the Oxford WebQ questionnaire (stock photo)

Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the University of Porto wrote in the journal GeroScience: ‘Daily consumption of nuts may play a protective role in the prevention of dementia.

‘British adults who consumed nuts daily had a lower risk of all-cause dementia compared to non-consumers after seven years of follow-up, regardless of lifestyle modification, hearing problems, self-related health and number of chronic diseases.’

Bridget Benelam, from the British Nutrition Foundation, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is a very important finding as dementia is the biggest cause of death in Britain. Nuts are nutrient-rich and contain fats, proteins, fiber and a range of micronutrients.

‘Given that nuts have also been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes, they are an excellent food to include as part of a healthy diet. But they are high in calories, so it’s best to keep portion sizes to a handful.’