Study Suggests MIND Diet Reduces the Risk of Dementia

A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found persons who adhere to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet have less risk of developing cognitive impairment and disorders including Alzheimer's and dementia, reports Medical Xpress . The MIND diet combines some aspects of the Mediterranean diet with foods specifically relevant to brain health. It includes 15 elements with a concentration on green leafy vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and small portions of red meat. The researchers tracked 1,220 adults 60 and older over 12 years, during which a dietary pattern that followed the MIND model was associated with 19 percent reduced odds of developing clinically diagnosed mild cognitive impairment or dementia. No similar benefit was seen for following the Mediterranean dietary pattern. "This study has shown for the first time, outside of the United States, that the MIND diet reduces the risk of dementia," declared University of New South Wales Professor Kaarin Anstey.