A simple dietary change could significantly reduce your risk of developing dementia, and it’s not as dull as munching on greens or apples – it’s nuts, whether salted or unsalted. A study published in GeroScience suggests that the risk can be reduced by up to 12% with just a handful of nuts being the magic number. The research utilised data from the UK Biobank collected between 2007 and 2023 to examine how nut consumption impacts dementia risk. Nut intake was initially measured using a 24-hour food questionnaire, and dementia cases were tracked through medical records, hospitalisations, or death certificates. Those already diagnosed with dementia at the start were excluded from the study. The study analysed data from 50,386 participants, with an average age of 56.5 years for men and 49.2% women. Over an average period of 7.1 years, 1,422 people – 2.8% – developed dementia. Compared to those who didn’t consume nuts, individuals who ate them daily – up to three or more handfuls – had a 12% lower risk of developing all-cause dementia, which researchers described as a “significantly associated” reduced risk, reports Surrey Live . Interestingly, the greatest benefits were observed with unsalted nuts and moderate consumption of up to one handful or 30g per day. The study found no significant differences based on other factors such as age or gender. Incorporating a modest portion of nuts into your daily diet, particularly those without added salt, might be a simple yet effective way to stave off dementia, researchers suggest: “The daily consumption of nuts may play a protective role in the prevention of dementia.” It鈥檚 not only unsalted varieties that are beneficial for health; specifically, walnuts have been highlighted by health boffins at livestrong as the go-to nutritious nibble. Pointing out the perils of elevated cholesterol levels, they note that higher amounts of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood are indicators of increased heart disease risk, as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, slashing “dietary cholesterol” is essential, and here’s where walnuts come into play. Supporting this claim, a study featured in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology discovered a remarkable link – individuals indulging in peanuts, tree nuts, and particularly walnuts once or more weekly saw a reduction in heart disease risk by 13 to 19%, alongside a 15-23% decrease in coronary heart disease risk.