Keeping Brain Healthy

As researchers work to discover the causes and prevention of age-related cognitive decline, a growing body of research points to lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, as possible prevention measures.

Dementia, characterized by a deterioration of memory and thinking, affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with 10 million new cases per year, the World Health Organization estimates.

Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and affects 5.7 million Americans, two-thirds of whom are women over age 65.

As the Alzheimer's Association states that deaths from Alzheimer's disease increased 145% between 2000 and 2019, there is a growing sense of urgency to uncover prevention methods that can be practiced from an early age. One way to do that could start with what you eat.

"Nutrition plays a huge role in most body functions and how we function, including aging," says Liz Weinandy, M.P.H., RD, a registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For example, a 2019 study of dementia-free elders published in the journal NeuroImage found that distinct nutrient biomarker patterns were associated with cognitive health and functional brain network efficiency. 

A 2015 study in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia showed that adhering to the MIND diet was linked to lower rates of Alzheimer's. And another 2015 study from the same publication found a link between the MIND diet and slower rates of cognitive decline.  TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE...

Med Diet

Meals inspired by traditional foods from the sunny Mediterranean, a new study found, may lower your risk for dementia by interfering with the buildup of two proteins, amyloid and tau, into the plaques and tangles that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.

"The mountain of evidence continues to build that you are what you eat when it comes to brain health," said Dr. Richard Isaacson, who directs the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

"In this important study, researchers showed that it's possible to not only improve cognitive function -- most specifically memory -- but also reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease pathology," said Isaacson, who was not involved in the study.

"For every point of higher compliance with the diet, people had one extra year less of brain aging. That is striking," Isaacson added. "Most people are unaware that it's possible to take control of your brain health, yet this study shows us just that."

What is the Mediterranean diet?
Forget lasagna, pizza, spanakopita and lamb souvlaki -- they are not on the daily menu of those who live by the Mediterranean seaside.

The true diet is simple, plant-based cooking, with the majority of each meal focused on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans and seeds, with a few nuts and a heavy emphasis on extra-virgin olive oil. Fats other than olive oil, such as butter, are consumed rarely, if at all. And say goodbye to refined sugar or flour.  TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE...