Washington, August 23 : A study led by researchers at Baycrest in
Toronto has indicated that older adults who lead sedentary lifestyles
and consume a lot of sodium in their diet may be at risk not only for
heart disease but also cognitive decline.

A study led by Baycrest researchers - in collaboration with colleagues
at the Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal, McGill
University and the Universite de Sherbrooke - has found evidence that
high-salt diets coupled with low physical activity can be detrimental to
cognitive health in older adults.

The study followed the sodium consumption and physical activity levels
of 1,262 healthy older men and women (ages 67 - 84) residing in Quebec,
Canada, over three years.

While low sodium intake is associated with reduced blood pressure and
risk of heart disease, this is believed to be the first study to extend
the benefits of a low sodium diet to brain health in healthy older
adults.

"We have generated important evidence that sodium intake not only
impacts heart health, but brain health as well," said Dr. Alexandra
Fiocco, a scientist with Baycrest''s Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied and
Evaluative Research Unit (KLAERU) and the study''s lead investigator.

Health Canada''s sodium reduction strategy recommends that people 14
years of age and older consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day
in their diet.

"The results of our study showed that a diet high in sodium, combined
with little exercise, was especially detrimental to the cognitive
performance of older adults," said Fiocco.

"But the good news is that sedentary older adults showed no cognitive
decline over the three years that we followed them if they had low
sodium intake," added Fiocco.

The study has been published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. (ANI)