Lifestyle factors are increasingly recognized as important determinants of cognitive health. Previous research has shown that home cooking is associated with a lower risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, along with potential mental health benefits.1

Cooking at home promotes healthier eating habits, including increased intake of fruits and vegetables and lower consumption of processed foods. It also involves physical activities such as shopping and meal preparation, which may contribute to overall activity levels in older adults. In addition, cooking requires cognitive processes such as planning the meals, selecting the ingredients, and following the recipes, thereby providing mental stimulation.1

A recent study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests that cooking meals at home may be associated with a lower risk of dementia. This population-based cohort study involved 10,978 participants from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, who were followed up for 6 years. Assessment of cooking skills and cooking frequency were assessed through a baseline survey. It was observed that cooking at least once a week resulted in a 23% lower dementia risk among the male participants and a 27% lower risk among the female participants. A 67% reduction in dementia risk was noted in participants with low cooking skills.1,2 These findings highlight home cooking as a potentially simple and sustainable lifestyle behavior to support cognitive health (see the Graphic).