iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Walnuts are not everyone’s cup of tea but even those who aren’t fans of the nut can’t ignore some important findings by the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities.
After conducting experiments with mice prone to Alzheimer’s disease, researchers say that their learning skills, memory and motor skills all improved after consuming walnuts.
On top of that, the walnut-fed mice, compared to those who didn’t get the nuts, also experienced less anxiety.
It’s believed that the anti-oxidants found in walnuts protect the brain from amyloid beta, a protein that kills cells which hastens dementia.
All it took to help the mice ward off Alzheimer’s disease was the human equivalent of one to one-and-a-half ounces of walnuts daily. Of course, more tests are needed to determine if people can also capitalize on the surprise benefits of walnuts.
One caveat: the study was funded partly by the California Walnut Commission.
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