Mediterranean and MIND diets linked to younger brain age

Research published in the journal Neurology suggests that specific dietary patterns, namely the Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet, may significantly delay brain aging and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists from Rush University conducted a post-mortem analysis of brain tissue from 581 individuals who had participated in a long-term memory and aging study since the 1980s. The findings indicated that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with lower levels of brain plaques, corresponding to a brain up to 18 years younger than those with low adherence. The MIND diet showed similar, though slightly less pronounced, benefits.

Leafy green vegetables were highlighted as particularly beneficial; individuals consuming at least seven servings per week showed plaque levels consistent with a brain up to 19 years younger than their peers.