A new study from RUSH University in Chicago is giving people hope that what we eat might help protect our brains as we grow older.
Published in the journal Neurology, the research looked at how certain diets might be linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study focused on two healthy eating styles: the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet. Both are known for including a lot of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and fish.
The Mediterranean diet is based on traditional eating habits from countries near the Mediterranean Sea. It includes a lot of vegetables, fruits, olive oil, fish, and a little wine. The MIND diet is similar but puts special focus on green leafy vegetables, berries, and having at least one serving of fish every week.
To understand the connection between diet and brain health, researchers followed 581 older adults, with an average age of 84. These people agreed to donate their brains for research after they passed away. During the study, they filled out yearly surveys about what they ate. On average, they were followed for seven years.
After many of the participants had passed away, researchers studied their brains. They found that 66% of them had signs of Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid plaques and tau tangles—two major signs of the disease.
But here’s the interesting part: the people who followed the Mediterranean or MIND diets more closely had fewer of these harmful changes in their brains.
Even more amazing, those who ate green leafy vegetables seven or more times a week had brains that looked nearly 19 years younger than those who ate the least amount of greens. That means their brains stayed healthier for longer.
Although this study doesn’t prove that these diets directly prevent Alzheimer’s, it does show a strong link between eating healthy foods and better brain health. This means that what we eat could play an important role in keeping our minds sharp as we age.
The study was led by Puja Agarwal and her team, who believe that changing your diet might be one of the easiest ways to take care of your brain. They suggest that people try to eat more spinach, kale, berries, whole grains, beans, fish, and nuts. Even small changes could make a big difference over time.
More studies are needed to find out exactly how these foods help protect the brain. But for now, this research adds to growing evidence that a healthy diet can help you stay mentally sharp and may lower the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
If you’re looking for simple ways to stay healthy as you age, consider starting with your plate. Eating more green vegetables and healthy foods might not just make you feel better—it could also help keep your brain younger for years to come.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia, and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
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