Recent research highlights that the federally funded food stamp program may play a significant role in promoting brain health.
Last year, more than 41 million individuals benefited from the US Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which assists low-income families in purchasing healthier food options.
It’s been well-established that nutritious foods, particularly those high in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, can aid brain function, enhance memory, and improve cognitive abilities.
Interestingly, this new study indicates that older adults who participate in SNAP are less likely to experience cognitive decline compared to those who don’t.
“Food anxiety can adversely affect cognitive function, and this study is among the first to demonstrate that food assistance programs can positively impact cognition,” said Maria C. Carrillo, Chief Science Officer at the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
Conducted at the University of Georgia, the study followed 1,100 individuals aged 50 and older who were enrolled in SNAP in 2010, along with 1,200 similar individuals who were eligible but chose not to participate.
Participants were interviewed every two years between 2010 and 2020 to evaluate their memory and their ability to plan and complete tasks.
The results revealed a modest decline of 0.10% in overall cognitive function among SNAP participants, which translates to an advantage of roughly 2-3 years in brain health over the course of the decade-long study.
“This gradual decline in cognitive ability could prevent some individuals from reaching the threshold for mild cognitive impairment for nearly ten years,” stated Linlin DA, a lead author and doctoral candidate in Health Services Research at UGA.
Mild cognitive impairment, as you may know, can seriously impact daily life and significantly raises the risk of developing dementia, affecting memory, thought processing, language, judgment, and can lead to severe behavioral changes.
While all individuals in the SNAP program seemed to gain cognitive benefits, the research noted that white participants experienced a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to their Black and Hispanic counterparts.
This discrepancy has led researchers to advocate for a deeper exploration into the racial and ethnic differences in the effects of SNAP on cognitive health.
The study’s findings were shared at the International Conference of the Alzheimer’s Disease Association in Toronto.
This comes just weeks after significant cuts to the program were proposed by President Trump, which could make it harder for many to qualify and may result in reduced benefits.
Before these proposed changes, SNAP participants received an average of $187 per month. The program, which has its roots going back to 1939 during the Great Depression, cost taxpayers around $100 billion last year.
