A large analysis suggests that increasing the amount of plant protein consumed is associated with healthy aging.

A diet rich in protein — especially plant protein — may keep women healthier as they age, a new study suggests.

In an analysis of data from more than 48,000 women, researchers found that each 3% increase in the amount of plant protein consumed was associated with a 38% higher likelihood of staying healthy as the women got older, meaning fewer or no chronic diseases, better physical mobility and little cognitive decline, according to the report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Wednesday.

“In particular, plant protein, seemed to be favorably associated with good mental health status and a lack of impairments in memory,” said the study’s lead author, Andres Ardisson Korat, a scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.