Study Shows Diet May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

MIND Diet Related To Prevent Alzheimer’s

If you follow the news you know there has been a large increase of elders suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Many are now asking “how can I prevent Alzheimer’s?  The fact people are living much longer lives certainly has something to do with it. This is also a reason why we are so far behind in not only finding a cure but how to prevent Alzheimer’s entirely. Many studies are being conducted to assist in prevention and while nothing is guaranteed, a study from Rush University Medical Center shows there can be some prevention by one particular diet.
The diet is called, of all things, MIND which stands for Mediterranean Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. The MIND approach “specifically includes foods and nutrients that medical literature and data show to be good for the brain, such as berries,” says Martha Clare Morris, ScD, director of nutrition and nutritional epidemiology at Rush University Medical Center.

MIND means eating from these 10 food groups-

• Green leafy vegetables (like spinach and salad greens): At least six servings a week
• Other vegetables: At least one a day
• Nuts: Five servings a week
• Berries: Two or more servings a week
• Beans: At least three servings a week
• Whole grains: Three or more servings a day
• Fish: Once a week
• Poultry (like chicken or turkey): Two times a week
• Olive oil: Use it as your main cooking oil.
• Wine: One glass a day

Foods to avoid on this diet are-

• Red meat: Less than four servings a week
• Butter and margarine: Less than a tablespoon daily
• Cheese: Less than one serving a week
• Pastries and sweets: Less than five servings a week
• Fried or fast food: Less than one serving a week

“One of the more exciting things about this is that people who adhered even moderately to the MIND diet had a reduction in their risk for AD,” said Morris, a Rush professor, assistant provost for Community Research, and director of Nutrition and Nutritional Epidemiology. “I think that will motivate people.”

Scientists need to do more research on the MIND approach to prevent Alzheimer’s., but it’s a very promising start. It shows that what you eat can make an impact on whether you develop late-onset Alzheimer’s, which is the most common form of the disease.