New Study Suggests That MIND Diet Can Slow Aging Process, Lower Your Risk of Dementia
The MIND diet is an acronym for the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet. You may have heard that there are proven benefits of following both the Mediterranean and DASH diets, but a recent study suggests that the MIND diet may help slow your aging and reduce your risk of developing dementia.
A recent study published in Annals of Neurology sought to discover whether the MIND diet reduces the risk of dementia by slowing the pace of biological aging. Biological aging is determined by analyzing several markers in the body’s cells. Researchers analyzed data from the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term study meant to identify factors contributing to heart disease. The study analyzed data from 1,644 dementia-free adults over the age of 60. Between 1991 and 2008, researchers looked in on participants every 4 to 7 years. In the process, researchers assessed diet, blood work, and results from neurocognitive tests. Researchers determined the pace of their biological aging based on these results.
Researchers concluded that there was a link between following the MIND diet and a slower pace of aging. A slower pace of aging, in turn, reduced one’s risk of developing senile dementia. Further, the study found that slower aging scores significantly impacted the relationships between diet and dementia and diet and mortality.
The MIND diet combines two top-rated diets for health, the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. Both include foods that have been proven to improve brain health and slow cognitive decline.
What foods are included in the MIND diet?
The MIND diet includes foods that have been previously linked to brain health. These foods tend to be anti-oxidant rich and anti-inflammatory. They include:
- Green leafy vegetables
- Nuts
- Berries
- Olive oil
Foods that are rich in antioxidants have been found to help reduce inflammation (a risk factor for cancer) and protect against memory and learning loss. Both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods tend to reduce or prevent some of the brain changes that ultimately lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Research has continually shown the benefits of the MIND diet. It does more than simply reduce your risk of dementia, according to experts. It can also improve your overall health, including potentially reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and stroke.
The researchers note that the MIND diet isn’t the only one that can benefit your brain. Other diets include high-fat low-carb diets like the keto diet, intermittent fasting, and the Mediterranean diet have also proven effective at increasing brain health.
The study indicates that those who commit to a diet that is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories can significantly reduce your risk of dementia. Further, it can also slow the aging process.
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Source:
prevention.com/health/memory/a60480600/mind-diet-slow-aging-lower-dementia-risk-study/
