According to a recent analysis involving 90,000 adults, it’s never too late to start adopting healthier eating habits to prevent dementia. Researchers from the University of Hawaii have revealed that individuals over the age of 45 who adhered to a dietary regimen known as the MIND diet were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
The MIND diet, which stands for Mediterranean Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, was developed by the late Dr. Martha Clare Morris, a renowned nutritional epidemiologist from Rush University. This diet is a fusion of the traditional Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), both of which are acclaimed for their health benefits.
The MIND diet emphasizes the consumption of foods that are known to be beneficial for brain health, including leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, fish, and olive oil. The recent study found that adherence to the MIND diet was associated with a stronger and more consistent reduction in the risk of dementia compared to other healthy dietary patterns across various racial groups.
The study's findings revealed that participants who improved their adherence to the MIND diet over time experienced the most significant reduction in dementia risk. Specifically, those who scored higher for MIND adherence at the beginning of the study had a 9% lower risk of dementia. Among participants identifying as African American, Latino, or White, the reduction was even greater—approximately 13%.
Interestingly, the beneficial effects of the MIND diet were consistent across different age groups, indicating that adopting this healthy diet can be advantageous at any age. Dr. Song-Yi Park, an Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, emphasized that "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." This underscores the notion that it is never too late to embrace a healthy diet for dementia prevention.
Dr. Park and her team analyzed data collected from over 90,000 American adults, who provided dietary information starting in the 1990s. At the outset, participants were aged between 45 and 75 years, and more than 21,000 individuals developed Alzheimer’s or related dementias in the following years. The study also highlighted that those who enhanced their adherence to the MIND diet over a decade—regardless of their initial commitment—had a 25% lower risk of dementia compared to those whose adherence declined.
While the protective relationship between a healthy diet and dementia was evident across various ages and racial groups, the study noted a less pronounced effect among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians. Dr. Park suggested that a tailored approach may be necessary to evaluate the dietary quality of different subpopulations, indicating the need for further research to clarify these patterns.
In summary, the findings of this large-scale study reinforce the significance of the MIND diet as a powerful tool in the fight against dementia. By prioritizing brain-healthy foods, individuals can take proactive steps towards preserving their cognitive health, regardless of age.
