November 25, 2017
Sandwich with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and arugula
Wellness Tip

Mediterranean Diet vs. Cognitive Decline

by Berkeley Wellness  

More evidence that a Mediterranean-style diet can help reduce age-related cognitive decline: Older people who follow this eating pattern have less age-related brain shrinkage (atrophy), according to a study in the journal Neurology.

Researchers correlated the dietary habits of 967 Scottish people in their early seventies with changes seen on MRI brain scans over a three-year period. Those who most closely followed a Mediterranean-style diet lost much less brain volume than those who adhered least to the diet.The researchers adjusted the data for other factors that could affect brain volume.

The key elements of the diet are a high intake of fruits, vegetables, and legumes; moderate intake of fish, nuts, whole grains, and wine; and low intake of red or processed meats.

Also see Mediterranean Diet Best for Heart?and Can Diet Prevent Dementia?