A new study from RUSH University in Chicago suggests that eating green leafy vegetables and other healthy foods may help reduce signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain.
The research focused on two well-known diets: the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet. Both diets emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, fish, and small amounts of wine.
The Mediterranean diet recommends eating plenty of vegetables and fruit, along with at least three servings of fish per week.
The MIND diet, which was specifically designed for brain health, highlights the importance of green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and collard greens. It also recommends berries over other fruits and suggests eating fish at least once a week.
The study included 581 older adults, with an average age of 84, who agreed to donate their brains for dementia research after death. During their lives, they filled out yearly surveys about their eating habits.
They passed away, on average, about seven years after joining the study. When their brains were examined, 66% showed signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, researchers found that those who closely followed the Mediterranean or MIND diets had fewer amyloid plaques and tau tangles in their brains. These plaques and tangles are biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study also discovered that people who ate the most green leafy vegetables—seven or more servings per week—had brain plaque levels similar to those of people nearly 19 years younger.
While these findings suggest that diet may play a role in brain health, the study only found an association, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. More research is needed to confirm whether these diets can actually prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Still, the results add to growing evidence that eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole grains may help protect memory and cognitive function as people age. The study was led by Dr. Puja Agarwal and was published in the journal Neurology.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about the protective power of dietary antioxidants against Alzheimer’s, and eating habits linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
