Latest news with #MINDdiet
Fox News
2 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Rates of dementia are lower in people who eat this specific diet, research shows
Certain foods may feed the brain better than others. New research presented this week at NUTRITION 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, Florida, found that the MIND diet is particularly beneficial for cognitive health. People who followed the MIND eating plan — which stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay — were "significantly less likely" to develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, according to a press release from the American Society for Nutrition. MIND is a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), the latter of which is designed to reduce blood pressure. The diet focuses on "brain-healthy foods" like leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts and olive oil. "The MIND diet is unique as the first eating plan focused on foods to specifically improve and support cognitive health," Lauren Harris-Pincus, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of and author of "The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook," told Fox News Digital. The plant-focused MIND diet highlights 10 types of food, including berries, leafy greens, veggies, whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, seafood, poultry and olive oil, according to Harris-Pincus, who was not involved in the research. "These focus foods contain nutrients that play a critical role in supporting brain health, including flavonoids, carotenoids, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA), choline, and minerals like magnesium, potassium and calcium," she said. "The diet also suggests limiting foods such as pastries, refined sugar, red meat, cheese, fried foods, fast food, and butter or margarine." Researchers from the University of Hawaii analyzed data from nearly 93,000 U.S. adults who reported their dietary habits during the 1990s as part of the Multiethnic Cohort Study. At the start of the study, participants ranged in age from 45 to 75. "The MIND diet is unique as the first eating plan focused on foods to specifically improve and support cognitive health." In analyzing which participants developed Alzheimer's or other dementias in later years, the MIND eating plan performed better than other healthy diets in terms of reducing dementia risk, with benefits seen among both younger and older groups. Those who followed the diet were shown to have an overall 9% reduced risk of dementia, and some groups — African American, Latino and White participants — showed a 13% lower risk. Asian-Americans and native Hawaiians did not show as pronounced of a risk reduction. The longer people adhered to the diet, the greater the reduction of risk. Those who followed the plan over a 10-year period had a 25% lower risk compared to those who didn't stick with it. "Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life and their improvement over time may prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias," said Song-Yi Park, PhD, associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in the release. For more Health articles, visit "This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet to prevent dementia."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
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.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The diet that could cut your Alzheimer's risk by half
New research indicates that adhering to a brain-healthy diet, such as the MIND diet, can help prevent Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia at any age. The MIND diet combines the Mediterranean diet with the DASH diet, emphasising leafy greens, berries, nuts, fish, poultry, and olive oil while limiting sugar and saturated fats. Dr. Song-Yi Park's study of nearly 93,000 American adults found that those who followed the MIND diet had a 9 per cent lower risk of dementia, with an even more pronounced reduction (13%) among African American, Latino, and White participants. Participants who improved their adherence to the MIND diet over time experienced a 25 per cent lower risk of dementia compared to those whose adherence declined. Previous research has shown that rigorous adherence to the MIND diet can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by more than half, and even moderate commitment can lower the risk by more than a third.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Meet the MIND diet: With some claiming it can keep your brain strong
Sticking to a brain-healthy diet can help fight off Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The MIND — or 'Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay' — diet has been effective in this area, according to new research. The strategy combines the well-known Mediterranean diet with the DASH, or 'Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,' eating plan, emphasizing foods such as leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, fish, poultry, and olive oil. The DASH eating plan targets a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, limiting sugar and foods high in saturated fats. 'Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life and their improvement over time may prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias,' Dr. Song-Yi Park, an associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said in a statement. 'This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet to prevent dementia.' Park is presenting the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition on Monday. Park and his colleagues analyzed data from nearly 93,000 American adults who had provided information about their diets starting in the 1990s when they were between the ages of 45 and 75 years old. More than 21,000 have since developed Alzheimer's or related dementias. Those who stuck to the plant-forward MIND diet had a 9 percent lower risk of dementia. That was even more pronounced among those who identified as African American, Latino or White, at around 13 percent. The trend was not as apparent among Asian Americans and showed a weaker trend in Native Hawaiians. Those who enhanced their commitment to the diet over time showed the greatest risk reduction. That was true for both older and younger groups. Participants who improved their compliance had a 25 percent lower risk of dementia compared with those whose adherence declined. The findings build upon previous research which found the diet slashed the risk of Alzheimer's by as much as more than half for those who stuck to it rigorously and more than a third in those with moderate commitment. Leafy greens are especially associated with less Alzheimer's brain pathology, according to the National Institute on Aging. Whatever the cause, adhering to the healthy diet may help millions of Americans with Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for 60-80 percent of dementia cases. 'A tailored approach may be needed when evaluating different subpopulations' diet quality,' Park explained.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
This diet can protect your brain from Alzheimer's even if started later in life, new study suggests
People who follow a MIND diet, even if started later in life, were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or related forms of dementia, according to new research. The MIND diet stands for "Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay" and combines many elements of the Mediterranean diet and DASH ("Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension"). It emphasizes brain-healthy foods like leafy greens, berries, nuts and olive oil. The study, being presented Monday at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, analyzed data from nearly 93,000 U.S. adults aged 45 to 75 starting in the 1990s. Participants who closely followed a MIND diet had a 9% lower risk of dementia compared to those with low adherence to the diet. Those who improved their adherence to the diet over 10 years, including those who didn't follow the diet closely at first, had a 25% lower risk of dementia compared to those whose adherence declined. "Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life and their improvement over time may prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias," Song-Yi Park, an associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said in a news release. "This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet to prevent dementia." An estimated 7.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. This study joins previous research that has highlighted the benefits of eating a plant-focused diet to prevent the progressive brain disorder. A 2023 study published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that people who follow the Mediterranean or MIND diets may have fewer signs of Alzheimer's disease in their brain tissue. "While our research doesn't prove that a healthy diet resulted in fewer brain deposits of amyloid plaques, also known as an indicator of Alzheimer's disease, we know there is a relationship and following the MIND and Mediterranean diets may be one way that people can improve their brain health and protect cognition as they age," study author Puja Agarwal of Rush University in Chicago, who holds a doctorate in human nutrition, said in a news release at the time. Researchers found leafy greens appeared to be the biggest asset of the diets. "People who ate the highest amounts of green leafy vegetables, or seven or more servings per week, had plaque amounts in their brains corresponding to being almost 19 years younger than people who ate the fewest, with one or fewer servings per week," the researchers said in the release.
