Many studies suggest that what we eat affects the aging brain’s ability to think and remember. Researchers are more rigorously testing certain healthy eating patterns to see if they may help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive decline.
For example, one such diet that shows promising evidence is called the Mediterranean diet. It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and other seafood; unsaturated fats such as olive oils; and low amounts of red meat, eggs, and sweets. A variation of this called the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet, incorporates the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which has been shown to lower high blood pressure, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
This National Nutrition Month, learn more about what research suggests about diet and Alzheimer’s disease on NIA’s website.
