7 days ago
Scientists discover popular diet slashes dementia risk by a quarter - even if you start in your 70s
A diet rich in leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, olive oil and fish could slash your dementia risk by 25 per cent, scientists say.
Called the MIND diet—short for Mediterranean-Dash Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay— the eating pattern combines key features of the Mediterranean diet with a dramatic reduction in salt to help control blood pressure.
US scientists, who analysed the dietary patterns of more than 90,000 people over a decade, found those who stuck closely to the MIND diet slashed their risk of the memory-robbing disease by a quarter, regardless of the age they started it.
Dr Song-Yi Park, an expert in nutrition from the University of Hawaii and lead author of the research, said the results showed the importance of diet in dementia prevention.
'Healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life may prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias,' she said.
'This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet.'
Previously, the memory-boosting benefits of the diet have been seen in older women.
Research published last year by scientists in Ohio found a six per cent reduced risk of cognitive impairment for female participants who most closely followed the diet, but no decreased risk for men who did the same.
However the current study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, assessed the diets of 93,000 men and women aged between 45-75.
The participants were followed up a decade later to assess their diet again.
Analysis revealed those that the men and women who followed the MIND diet the closest were the least likely to develop dementia.
Those who improved their adherence to the MIND diet over the course of the study saw the biggest risk reduction of 25 per cent.
The findings are preliminary and have yet to be fully published and peer reviewed.
A breakdown of how the researchers measured adherence to the MIND diet was not available.
However, similar studies have previously used a points system.
For instance, points are awarded for eating three or more daily servings of wholegrains (like brown rice and oats) and six or more weekly servings of green leafy vegetables.
Eating fewer that four weekly servings of red meat is also considered a key characteristic of the diet, as well as a maximum of one serving of fast or fried foods each week.
Scientists have previously suggested that the high levels of antioxidant compounds in the MIND diet can protect the brain from harmful inflammation that fuels dementia.
Up to four in 10 dementia cases are thought to be attributed to lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise.
Around 944,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while the figure is thought to be around 7million in the US.
A recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is £42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt.
An ageing population means these costs—which include lost earnings of unpaid carers—are set to soar to £90billion in the next 15 years.
