The Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Age-Related Brain Shrinkage

Age-related brain shrinkage was found to slow in people aged 70 and older following the Mediterranean Diet.

The Mediterranean Diet is based on olive oil, whole-grain bread and unprocessed cheese. Alongside these, it mainly includes grains, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruit, and nuts.

The Mediterranean Diet , as you may remember from earlier articles, is thought to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and obesity, and slow aging. Evidence grows daily.

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Study

In January 2017, Neurology published research observing that Mediterranean-style nutrition reduced age-related loss of brain volume.

The study examined dietary habits in people in their 70s, totaling 967 individuals without signs of dementia.

Questionnaires assessed how closely their eating patterns resembled the Mediterranean Diet. At the beginning and end of the three-year study, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) measured brain volume and cerebral cortex thickness (the brain’s outermost layer).

Those eating Mediterranean-style food lost half as much brain volume over three years as those not following the diet.

In conclusion, this study is valuable for showing that a Mediterranean-style diet, based on modest, vegetable-rich eating, reduces age-related brain shrinkage alongside positive effects on heart health, diabetes and cancer.