Do you want a 'younger' brain? Drink beetroot juice before exercising

Combining the drink with exercise strengthens certain regions of the brain, making it appear more youthful and potentially preventing the organ's decline.

This finding could help people who are at risk of brain deterioration to remain functionally independent, such as those with a family history of dementia.

Beetroot juice's power likely lies in its nitric oxide content, which both increases blood flow to the brain and improves exercise performance. 

Study author Professor Jack Rejeski, said: 'Nitric oxide is a really powerful molecule. It goes to the areas of the body which are hypoxic, or needing oxygen, and the brain is a heavy feeder of oxygen in your body.

'Compared to exercise alone, adding a beetroot juice supplement to exercise resulted in brain connectivity that closely resembles what you see in younger adults.'

Scientists from Wake Forest University, North Carolina, studied 26 men and women aged 55 and older who did not exercise and had high blood pressure.

Some participants were given beetroot juice one hour before walking for 50 minutes on a treadmill, while others did the same exercise but without the drink. This was repeated three times a week for six weeks.

Those who drank the juice had healthier brains, including the regions involved in movement, emotion and cognitive function.

The scientists also found higher levels of nitrate and nitrite in those who drank the juice. 

Beetroot contains nitrate, which is first converted to nitrite and then nitric oxide in the body. 

This comes after researchers from Queen Mary University of London found one daily glass of 250ml beetroot juice substantially lowers blood pressure.

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Drinking tea reduces the risk of dementia

There's never been a better reason to switch the kettle on. Drinking a cup of tea each day may substantially lower your risk of dementia, new research suggests.

Consuming the popular beverage reduces the chances of getting the debilitating disease by 50 per cent, scientists found. While those carrying the 'dementia gene' can slash their likelihood of developing toxic clumps in their brain by as much as 86 per cent. 

And it doesn't matter whether you prefer green tea or black - it all has the same effect on the brain.

Full of compounds such as catechins and theaflavins, tea leaves are considered to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

These may help to protect the brain from vascular damage and neurodegeneration, according to Dr Feng Lei, of the National University of Singapore. 

He said: 'The data from our study suggests that a simple and inexpensive lifestyle measure such as daily tea drinking can reduce a person’s risk of developing neurocognitive disorders in late life.

'Our findings have important implications for dementia prevention. 

'Despite high quality drug trials, effective pharmacological therapy for neurocognitive disorders such as dementia remains elusive and current prevention strategies are far from satisfactory.'

The researchers assessed the tea consumption of 957 adults over the age of 55 over a period of 12 years. Every two years, the participants were assessed on their cognitive function using standardised tools. The researchers also collected information on their lifestyles, medical conditions and physical activities. 

The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 

This comes after scientists claimed in November that three cups of coffee a day can also reduce the risk of dementia. Moderate caffeine consumption is known to prevent the formation of toxic clumps in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease.

But a new report shows long-term intake helps to fill the body with powerful antioxidants that boost cognitive function.

However, it could also prevent Parkinson's and other neurological disorders, an analysis funded by six of Europe's biggest coffee companies found. 

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