Plant-based diet linked to brain health

The last time you couldn’t remember where you put your keys, did you wish you had a photographic memory? Well, not everybody is cut out to be a Brad Williams. Brad is an award-winning journalist and radio personality who was the subject of his brother’s documentary, “Unforgettable,” because of his uncanny ability to remember most everything. He possesses a highly superior autobiographical memory, otherwise known as hyperthesmia.

But for those of you who simply would like to improve your memory and keep your cognitive powers as sharp as possible, a study — across 10 different countries where folks eat various diets — may show you a simple solution. Eat a plant-based diet, starting as young an age as you can.

Researchers, writing in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, found that “the most important dietary link to Alzheimer’s disease appears to be meat consumption, with eggs and high-fat dairy also contributing.”

To protect your brain and heart while slashing your risk of dementia, eat plenty of whole grains, legumes and fresh produce — foods packed with polyphenols that help reduce inflammation. Add a healthy exercise routine of 10,000 steps a day or the equivalent. And if you want to give Brad Williams a run for his money, rev up your cognitive processing skills with a brain-training game. One option is the game Double Decision from Brainhq.

Bariatric surgery for obese adolescents

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 percent of school-age children are obese. That’s triple the number since 1970. The number of obese children with Type 2 diabetes also has skyrocketed. That prompted researchers at Boston’s Joslin Diabetes Center to explore whether bariatric surgery had helped obese adolescents with Type 2 diabetes.

They found that, compared with only taking medications, gastric bypass surgery did a better job of lowering blood glucose levels, led to greater weight loss and helped normalize cholesterol and blood pressure. Those who underwent surgical intervention also showed significant improvements in kidney function and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Seems for obese kids under age 19, bariatric surgery might be a lifesaver. True, we don’t have long-term follow-up of these adolescents, but results show promise in helping them achieve enduring lifestyle changes.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.