A carrot a day can prevent dementia and keep the memory on top form, scientists have revealed.
Taking supplements of beta-carotene, which makes carrots orange, over a number of years can help people recall words and conversations.
Beta-carotene is thought to protect brain cells from the damage caused by ageing. The US study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that men who took the supplement for more than 15 years achieved higher scores in cognitive tests than those who were not prescribed it.
Researchers believe that in the long term, people using the supplement could reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s, but added that more research was needed to confirm this. But smokers were warned not to take beta-carotene because it can increase the risk of lung cancer.
Daily fresh fruit and veg can cut the chances of dementia by 30 per cent compared with those who rarely ate them, the study reveals.
British charities welcomed the findings. Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust said: “Diet is a magnet for research, because it could offer a relatively inexpensive way to fight a disease that devastates lives and costs the NHS Care Services more than cancer, stroke and heart disease combined.
“Further research is needed to understand how beta-carotene affects those with impaired cognition on a molecular level before we can recommend its use as a dietary supplement to help prevent cognitive decline.”
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