Scientists have long believed that healthy eating may reduce the risk of memory loss, but not everyone appears to benefit in exactly the same way.
A new study suggests that simple blood tests may help identify the people most likely to gain from a brain-friendly eating plan called the MIND diet.
The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, examined data from the large MIND clinical trial. Investigators measured two proteins in participants’ blood that are closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease: beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau. These proteins are widely used in research because they often increase years before dementia symptoms begin.
Alzheimer’s disease develops gradually over many years. During this time, beta-amyloid forms plaques outside brain cells while tau proteins form tangles inside them. These changes damage communication between nerve cells and eventually affect memory and thinking.
The scientists reanalyzed data from 604 older adults who took part in the MIND trial. Participants were around 70 years old, were overweight, had diets that could be improved, and had a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. They received regular support from dietitians over three years.
The MIND diet was created by combining the Mediterranean diet with the DASH diet, both of which have been linked to better heart health. Because heart and brain health are closely connected, researchers designed the MIND diet to emphasize foods believed to support healthy brain aging, including berries, leafy vegetables, nuts, fish, and whole grains.
The original trial found that both the MIND diet group and the comparison group experienced small improvements in thinking ability. Since both groups also lost weight, the researchers believed weight loss may have contributed to these positive results.
When the researchers looked more closely at blood biomarker levels, they discovered a clearer pattern. Participants with higher levels of beta-amyloid and phosphorylated tau showed signs of greater cognitive decline if they followed the comparison diet, but this relationship was much weaker among those following the MIND diet.
These findings suggest that the MIND diet may help reduce the harmful effects associated with early Alzheimer’s-related brain changes. However, because this was a secondary analysis rather than the main goal of the original trial, the results should be interpreted carefully.
The researchers hope future studies will test whether blood biomarkers can be used to personalize dietary advice for older adults. If confirmed, doctors may one day recommend different nutrition plans based on an individual’s biological risk rather than giving the same advice to everyone.
This study adds to growing evidence that lifestyle choices remain important for brain health, even in people with early biological signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Although further research is required, the combination of healthy eating and blood biomarker testing could become an important part of future dementia prevention.
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 health information, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
Source: Rush University.
