Healthy Eating Linked to Better Brain Health

As the U.S. population ages, more adults are developing thinking and memory problems, called mild cognitive impairment. Scientists have been looking for ways to prevent or delay this type of mental decline and more severe disorders, like dementia.

Some studies have found links between healthy eating and improved thinking and memory. An eating pattern called the MIND diet has shown promise. It features leafy greens and other vegetables. It prefers berries over other fruit. It also encourages eating whole grains, beans, nuts, and at least one weekly serving of fish. It limits red meat, sweets, cheese, fast food, and fried foods.

To study the effects of the MIND diet, scientists analyzed data from about 14,000 people. Their average age was around 64 at the start. About 57% were female, 70% were White, and 30% were Black. Their eating patterns were assessed. Their cognitive health was measured at the beginning and end of the study, about 10 years later.

Overall, people who were eating foods most similar to the MIND diet were less likely to have problems with thinking and memory. They also had slower rates of cognitive decline. People who most closely stuck to the MIND diet had a 4% reduced risk of cognitive problems compared to those who ate a very different diet.

“With the number of people with dementia increasing with the aging population, it’s critical to find changes that we can make to delay or slow down the development of cognitive problems,” says Dr. Russell Sawyer of the University of Cincinnati, who led the study.