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Mediterranean diet and slower mental decline

A Mediterranean-style diet including foods like vegetables and fish are good for the brain.

Mediterranean diet and slower mental decline

A Mediterranean-style diet including foods like vegetables and fish are good for the brain.

Traditionally associated with the consumption of a lot of wine, fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil and fish - and with very little red meat - the Mediterranean way of eating has been credited with helping to prevent various ailments, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

To determine if slower brain aging might join the diet's list of potential health benefits, researchers looked at the dietary habits and cognitive function of nearly 3,790 Americans aged 65 years and older. The researchers gave participants two different diet scores, one reflecting adherence to the traditional diet of the Greek population and another based on how well participants met the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. The participants' mental decline was assessed every 3 years, based on measures such as word memory and basic math skills.

It was found that out of a maximum score of 55 on the MedDiet scale reflecting a typical Greek diet, the average study participant received a 28. And those with higher MedDiet scores appeared to have slower cognitive decline over time, even after accounting for other factors such as education. The differences had practical significance. If there were two older adults of the same age with Mediterranean diet scores 10 points apart, for example, the individual with a 10-point higher score would perform mentally as if she or he was 3 years younger than the other adult.

The researchers point to some explanations for the effects, such as wine's potential role in protecting the brain from damage. Traditional Mediterranean foods may also reduce oxidative stress and the inflammation that is thought to play a role in Alzheimer's disease.

The above findings are consistent with previous research that found a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease among those with higher Mediterranean diet scores, despite using different methods of measuring adherence to the diet.
Incorporating more vegetables, more olive oil, fish and moderate wine consumption coupled with greater physical activity is good for our aging brains. However, further research is still needed to confirm whether eating like a Greek will help maintain sharp mental faculties.
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