Cooking once a week could reduce dementia risk in older adults, study finds

Whilst good nutrition, regular exercise, quality sleep, and social connection are widely recognised as pillars of brain health, it is often the small, everyday activities that prove equally significant.

Tasks involving planning, decision-making, coordination, and sustained attention — even routine ones — can help keep the mind engaged and may contribute to reducing the risk of cognitive decline over time. Cooking is one such activity that brings many of these elements together as part of a daily habit.

Dr Kunal Sood, an anaesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine physician, has shed light on the relationship between preparing one's own meals and the risk of dementia.

In an Instagram video posted on 31 May, Dr Sood outlined how the act of cooking engages several areas of the brain simultaneously, positioning it as a meaningful form of mental exercise that may help support cognitive health and lower the risk of decline in later life.

A new study has found that preparing a meal from scratch as little as once a week is associated with a 30 per cent lower risk of dementia among older adults, indicating that seniors who cook for themselves may be considerably less likely to develop the condition.

Dr Sood notes that researchers followed a large cohort of adults aged 65 and above in Japan over a six-year period and identified this significant association — though he points out that the benefit likely extends well beyond the nutritional value of the food itself.

"A new study found that older adults who cook their own meals more often had a lower risk of developing dementia. And the reason may be more interesting than people think.

"Researchers followed nearly 11,000 adults over the age of 65 in Japan for about 6 years and found that people who cooked at least once a week were less likely to develop dementia over time. But this probably isn't just about the food itself," the physician noted.

Cooking as a brain workout

Dr Sood emphasises that cooking constitutes a surprisingly rigorous mental exercise. Far from being a passive or mechanical task, it calls upon a wide range of cognitive functions at once — including memory, planning, attention, sequencing, multitasking, and fine motor coordination.

Whether following a recipe, managing timings, or adapting to unexpected changes mid-preparation, the brain remains consistently active throughout the process.

"Cooking is actually a pretty intense brain workout when you think about it. It uses memory, planning, attention, multitasking, sequencing, and fine motor coordination all at the same time. You're consistently making decisions, following steps, timing things, and adapting as you go," he explained.

A broader lifestyle effect

Beyond the cognitive demands of cooking itself, Dr Sood also highlights that people who regularly prepare their own meals tend to lead healthier lives more broadly.

They are typically more physically active, make more considered dietary choices, maintain consistent daily routines, and stay more socially and mentally engaged — all of which are factors associated with better long-term cognitive function.

"There's also likely a lifestyle effect layered into this. People who cook more often may also move around more, eat differently, maintain routines, and stay more socially and mentally engaged," he said.

Dr Sood was careful to note the limitations of the research, however, concluding: "This study also does not prove cooking directly prevents dementia because it was observational, meaning it shows an association rather than direct causation.

"But the bigger takeaway is really interesting: Activities that keep the brain active and engaged in meaningful daily routines may help support long-term brain health over time."

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media.