Cutting back on calories is a good idea to protect the heart, and U.S. researchers say eating less also may reduce a person's risk of memory loss.

Yonas Geda of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and colleagues looked at the association between eating and those with mild cognitive impairment.

The researchers compared eating habits and diagnosis of memory loss in 1,000 participants, ages 70 and older.

"Caloric consumption of more than 2,143 calories per day is associated with twice [the] increased risk of having mild cognitive impairment," Geda said in a statement. "It's important to see your doctor regularly to check for signs of serious memory loss."

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. (UPI)