Spending time doing one thing in the kitchen at least once a week could slash the chances of you developing dementia, a new study has suggested.
The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are 982,000 people currently living with dementia in the UK, with around 10 million new cases being diagnosed worldwide every year, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to new research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health you could lower your risk of developing the syndrome by limiting how much you rely on takeaways and ready meals.
So instead of dialling in your regular Deliveroo order, experts suggested that following recipes and cooking nutritious food at home could keep a firm lid on dementia.
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The research, headed by Dr Yukako Tani of the Institute of Science, Tokyo, suggested that people over the age of 65 who cooked a meal from scratch at least once per week were 30 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who didn’t.
What’s more, experts who studied just shy of 11,000 Japanese senior citizens between 2016 and 2022 alleged that older novice cooks with a few culinary skills could lower their risk by 70 percent.
According to Neurotrack, when you follow recipes and make new food, you’re exercising the part of your brain responsible for executive functioning.
The site noted that a previous study wrote that after cooking tasks, memory and cognitive function can improve.
Moreover, Jaree Cottman, a licensed mental health therapist and founder of Kitchen Therapy, told SELF that repetitive movements, such as ‘cutting, separating, and sorting… can be soothing to the nervous system’.
"The risk of dementia became lower as people cooked more frequently, and the benefits of cooking were particularly significant for those with low cooking skills, ie, little cooking experience,” stated Dr Tani.
“Creating an environment where people can cook meals when they are older may be important for the prevention of dementia.”
The survey, which saw 1,195 people developing dementia over its six-year course, also found that women were more likely to cook meals at home than men.
Moreover, those who knew their way around a kitchen were more likely to create dishes from scratch than people who didn’t have much experience.
Expert criticises the study
Despite the positive suggestions, various experts, including Dr Susan Kohlhaas, Executive Director of Research and Partnerships, Alzheimer’s Research UK, have advised taking the new research with a pinch of salt,
She said that while the study does suggest a ‘possible link between home cooking and dementia risk’, it does not show that ‘cooking itself directly influences whether someone develops the condition’.
“The research cannot fully account for other lifestyle factors that could shape the results,” she reasoned via Science Media Centre.
“For example, people who cook regularly may also have healthier diets, be more physically active, and be in better overall health, all of which are linked to better brain health.”
‘Hacks’ to cook more at home
If you want to cook from scratch more and develop better eating habits, the task manager app Todoist has some tips.
The first is to make a weekly list of three to five go-to meals that you plan to eat on a regular basis and jot down any groceries you may need to purchase.
“Keep it simple. Repeat often. You don’t get bonus points for complexity or variety. The goal isn’t to be Martha Stewart.
“Don’t be afraid to repeat meals often, especially when you’re just getting into the habit of home cooking,” the experts alleged.
Canada’s Food Guide advised investing in various time-saving tools, such as a hand blender for soups and a pressure cooker to reduce cooking times.
Ella Scott