Healthy childhood diet can ‘keep mind sharp into 70s’ and ward off dementia

Study is first to track people at different time points in life and finds close link between nutrition and cognitive ability

A healthy diet earlier in life could help keep you mentally sharp into your 70s, and even ward off dementia, according to research that followed thousands of Britons for seven decades.

While most studies on diet and cognitive ability have focused on people already in or reaching old age, the new review was the first to track people throughout their life - from the age of four to 70 - and suggests the links may start much earlier than previously recognised.