By Jacqueline Howard, CNN

(CNN) — For older adults who may otherwise be food-insecure, participating in food assistance benefits may be associated with a slower cognitive decline as they age, according to new research.

Compared with eligible people who were not participating in the US Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program , SNAP participants showed a slower decline in cognitive function during a 10-year period, essentially maintaining up to three additional years of cognitive health, according to the study presented Wednesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto.

“We expected that SNAP might be protective for cognitive health based on prior research linking food insecurity to faster cognitive decline. But what did surprise us was the persistence

See Full Page