Want to stay away from cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's? Then, start having Mediterranean diets daily as it can help keep your brain healthy, reducing age-related damage, scientists say.
Researchers at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine found that eating a diet rich in vegetables and fish, along with moderate drinking, cuts the risk of developing lesions that are linked to the development of cognitive disorders including Alzheimer’s.
The Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is thought to improve heart health and stave off cancer as it is high in vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, whole grains and 'healthy' fats, such as those in olive oil, while low in red meat and dairy products.
The new study, published in the medical journal Archives of Neurology, examined for the first time the relationship between the MeDi and lesions in the brain, known as white matter hyperintensities (WHM).
Studies have said that eating MeDi is 'associated with a reduced risk of the metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease, stroke and cognitive disorders, but no studies to date have examined the link with WMH volume', lead researcher Dr. Hannah Gardener was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
"In summary, the current study suggests a possible protective association between increased consumption of a MeDi and small vessel damage," she said.
In their study, the researchers looked at data on almost 1,000 people with an average age of 72 years taking part in the Northern Manhattan Study.
Participants were given a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary patterns during the previous year, and answers were used to determine a score from 0-9, indicating how much they stuck to a MeDi.
The volume of chronic age-related white matter damage was measured using brain MRI scans.
Results showed that 11.6 per cent of participants scored zero to two on the MeDi scale, 15.8 per cent scored three, 23 per cent scored four, 23.5 per cent scored five, and 26.1 per cent scored six to nine.
Women had lower scores than men and those engaged in moderate to heavy levels of physical activity had higher scores.
The results show a lower burden of WMHV among people sticking to a Mediterranean diet, even after allowing for risk factors including physical activity, smoking, lipid levels, hypertension, diabetes, history of cardiac disease and BMI.
The only component of the MeDi score showing independent benefit with less brain damage was higher consumption of monounsaturated fat such as olive oil compared with saturated fat, including butter.
The results suggests the overall dietary pattern, rather than any of the individual components, was the most important factor, said Dr. Gardener.
