Posted on 06/08/2025 6:39:53 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
It’s never too late to start eating better to prevent dementia, according a new analysis of research involving 90,000 adults.
People over the age of 45 who followed a dietary pattern known as the MIND diet were “significantly” less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or related forms of dementia, said the University of Hawaii scientists.
The MIND diet stands for Mediterranean Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, and was developed by the late Martha Clare Morris, ScD, a Rush University nutritional epidemiologist. It combines the traditional Mediterranean diet with the blood pressure-lowering DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).
It includes proven ‘brain-healthy’ foods such as leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, fish, and olive oil.
The study found that the MIND diet had a stronger and more consistent risk reduction relationship with dementia than other ‘healthy’ diets for the majority of racial groups in the study.
Participants who improved their adherence to the diet the most over time showed the greatest pattern of risk reduction.
Overall, participants who scored higher for MIND adherence at the start of the study had a 9% lower risk of dementia, with an even greater reduction, of around 13%, among those who identified as African American, Latino or White.
The beneficial relationship was seen similarly among younger and older groups, which suggests that there are benefits to adopting the diet at any age.
“Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life, and their improvement over time. may prevent Alzheimer’s and related dementias,” said Dr. Song-Yi Park, Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
“This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet to prevent dementia.”
Dr. Park and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 90,000 American adults who provided information about their diet, starting in the 1990s.
The participants were between 45- and 75-years-old at the outset, and more than 21,000 developed Alzheimer’s or related dementias in the years that followed.
The results also showed that people who improved their adherence to MIND over 10 years—including those who didn’t follow the diet closely at first—had a 25% lower risk of dementia compared to those whose adherence declined.
Dr. Park said that trend was consistent across different ages and racial groups.
However, the protective relationship between a healthy diet and dementia was not as apparent among Asian Americans and even less so for Native Hawaiians.
“A tailored approach may be needed when evaluating different subpopulations’ diet quality,” said Park, who added that further studies could help clarify those patterns.
Dr. Park presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, Florida, on June 2.
That looks very good, to me.
Isn’t that what they always said was healthy?
9-13% risk reduction eh? Not very impressive to my demented way of thinking 😜
All you need is a chef and a large food budget.
I was taking a professional nutritionist’s advice about deliberately eating more fish. Worked at the hospital and doctor’s office.
I was eating fresh salmon and cod.
Then I happened onto an item which said self-help guy Anthony Robbins was in serious condition at one time from mercury poisoning due to this high fish diet. Looked up the many fish that have too much mercury and that the body absorbs it and most doesn’t leave. So I cut down (but Mcdonald’s Filet O’Fish for example is rated low in mercury and albacore tuna is rated as too high.).
You can’t win.
I’m almost 78. Outlived everyone else in my family. Nobody lived to 78. Only two got past 70. Three died between the ages of 51 and 69. I’ll keep eating what I want. Not much else in life to enjoy. And who cares about dementia. I don’t want to know most people anyway.
Funny. I looked at the ppicture & said in my head “That looks nasty”. De gustibus non est disputandum.
I think it depends on how high the particular fish is on the food chain.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-eat-lower-on-the-seafood-chain-202303222904
I’ve always been crazy but it kept from going insane......ht to Waylon Jennings.
There is a Buddhist Temple in Irving on loop 12 that has a vegetarian buffet. It’s crazy good. Coming from a deer and hog hunting gangster.
I’ve always been crazy but it kept from going insane......ht to Waylon Jennings.
There is a Buddhist Temple in Irving on loop 12 that has a vegetarian buffet. It’s crazy good. Coming from a deer and hog hunting gangster. Knock your socks off good.
It’s too late for me.
bookmark.
In matter of taste there is no dispute. Dad was a law dog. We spoke a lot of Latin.
I like your by line shown after your Posting Name.
The line about the Memory Foam.
First time I noticed it.
Lol!
No accounting for taste. ;^)
: )
My mind has gone tilt. How can you spout Latin and not appreciate good food all at the same time? Please respond. I am going to be up all night trying to figure this one out.
Dad?
Most of that was on my plate tonight.
Alternating days with huge hunks of red meat.
;-)
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