Fruit and vegetable consumption is increasingly associated with improved mental health, but most research in this area has been conducted in high-income countries.
The new paper, published in 'Mental Health and Prevention', provides evidence from family caregivers of people with dementia in rural Uganda, supported by the Mental Health Working Group
Summary points:
- Clinically significant symptoms of depression and anxiety are common amongst caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease
- Severity of depression was significantly reduced in caregivers frequently consuming green leafy vegetables, root vegetables, other vegetables and jackfruit
- Severity of anxiety was significantly reduced in caregivers frequently consuming root vegetables, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables
- Dietary interventions may have the potential to improve mental health in this high-risk population
This paper is an output from Herbert Ainamani's IMMANA fellowship on Mental health benefits of gardening and diet among caregivers of people with dementia in rural southwestern Uganda
