Cooking, Even Just Once a Week, is Good For Your Brain and Can Protect Your Memory, Study Finds

A Japanese study has shown that in people over 65, cooking can help keep the brain active, delaying possible cognitive decline, especially for those who are not particularly skilled in the kitchen.

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By Ilaria Canevara

It would be simplistic to consider cooking as a simple act of nourishment: for us cooking means love, culture, sharing, and happiness. But that's not all: according to a recent study, cooking can also become a valuable ally for your health. A team from the Tokyo Institute of Science has demonstrated that cooking independently at least once a week reduces the risk of developing dementia in older adults, especially those with limited culinary skills.

The Study

The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, involved 10,978 people aged 65 and over as part of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a large-scale cohort study. For six years, researchers monitored the participants' cognitive health, while also collecting information on how often they cooked at home and their cooking skills.

The results revealed a truly fascinating finding: preparing home-cooked meals at least once a week was associated with a lower risk of dementia compared to those who cooked less frequently. There were also small differences by gender: specifically, the reduction was approximately 23% in men and 27% in women.

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If You Don't Have Any Experience, It's Even Better

There's also good news for those who aren't very experienced in the kitchen. According to the study data, cooking one meal a week for those who consider themselves novice cooks is associated with a 67% lower risk of dementia. So, if you're over 65 and have never cooked seriously in your life, now might be the perfect time to start.

But why is cooking so good for you? As researchers explain, it's not just about nutrition. Cooking is a cognitively demanding activity: choosing ingredients, planning recipes, shopping, and organizing the various steps requires memory, coordination, and concentration—all functions that help the brain stay active and reduce the risk of developing certain diseases.

Of course, it's important to remember that this is an observational study, not a controlled experiment. This means it can't be said with absolute certainty that cooking directly reduces the risk of dementia. Other factors that can be crucial to a person's physical and mental well-being come into play: a healthy diet, physical activity, and increased social interaction—perhaps even cooking with others—can undoubtedly contribute significantly to disease prevention.