Milk Boosts Brain Function

Previously, a number of studies have established a broad range of health benefits of drinking milk, from bone strength to cardiovascular health.  G.E. Crichton, from the University of Maine (Maine, USA), and colleagues enrolled 900 men and women, ages 23 to 98 years, in a study involving a series of brain assessments – including visual-spatial, verbal and working memory tests. The team also tracked the milk consumption habits of the participants. In the series of eight different measures of mental performance, regardless of age and through all tests, those who drank at least one glass of milk each day had an advantage. The highest scores for all eight outcomes were observed for those with the highest intakes of milk and milk products compared to those with low and infrequent milk intakes. The benefits persisted even after controlling for other confounding factors that can affect brain health.  Observing that: “participants who consumed dairy products at least once per day had significantly higher scores on multiple domains of cognitive function compared with those who never or rarely consumed dairy foods, the study authors conclude that: “Frequent dairy food intake is associated with better cognitive performance.”