Older men who chew food a lot are at greater risk of dementia – and every extra bite counts

Excessive chewing of food may be a sign that men are at risk for dementia.

Men aged 60 and over who ate 30 or more bites per bite had a 2.9 times higher risk of developing the disease than those who ate fewer than ten bites, a study found.

Five additional bites were associated with a 16 percent increased risk.

The results also show that a greater number of chewing movements was associated with a smaller brain volume.

Previous research has shown that chewing can stimulate the brain.

The more people chew, the greater the blood flow to the brain, leading to more oxygen and activity in key brain areas.

Excessive chewing of food may be a sign that men are at risk for dementia (stock photo)

The more people chew, the greater the blood flow to the brain, leading to more oxygen and activity in important parts of the brain (stock photo)

Researchers suggest that men with dementia may try to compensate for a decline in cognitive strength by chewing regularly to stimulate blood flow in the brain.

The effect was not observed in females and it is believed that this is because their bite is not as strong as that of males.

Researchers from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in South Korea told the Journal of Korean Medical Science: ‘Regular and vigorous chewing during meals may be an attempt to cope with the progression of dementia.’

They say regular screening of chewing habits can help identify those who may be at risk for dementia.