Researchers claim: Popular diet reduces the risk of dementia by a quarter

A diet rich in leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, olive oil and fish can reduce your risk of dementia by 25 percent, according to researchers.

The diet is called the mind diet-an abbreviation for Mediterranean-Dash Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay-and combines different elements of the Mediterranean diet with a marked reduction of salt to help control blood pressure.

American researchers who have analyzed the diets of more than 90,000 people over a period of ten years found that those who closely followed the mind diet reduced their risk of the terrible disease by a quarter-no matter what age they began.

Dr. Song-Yi Park, a nutritionist from the University of Hawaii and lead author of the study, said the results show how important diet is in the prevention of dementia.

« Healthy diets in the middle of the end of life can prevent Alzheimer’s and related dementia.

In the past, the memory -enhancing effects of the diet are especially seen in older women.

A study published last year by researchers in Ohio showed a six percent lower risk of cognitive impairment among female participants who followed the diet most closely – but no reduced risk to men who did the same.

The current study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando estimated the diets of 93,000 men and women aged 45 to 75 years. Participants were followed up ten years later to re -realize their diet.

The analysis showed that the men and women who followed the mind diet most consistently had the lowest risk of developing dementia. Those who improved their compliance with the mind diet during the study experienced the greatest risk reduction-as much as 25 percent.

The results are preliminary and have not yet been published and peer -assessed. A detailed overview of how the researchers measured the participants’ compliance with the mind diet was not available. However, previously similar studies have used a point system, writes the Daily Mail.

For example, points are given to eat three or more daily portions of whole grains (such as brown rice and oatmeal) and six or more weekly portions of leafy vegetables.

Eating fewer than four servings of red meat a week is also a key feature of the diet, which also applies to a maximum of one weekly portion of fast food or fryer.

Researchers have previously claimed that the high levels of antioxidants in the mind diet can protect the brain from harmful inflammation, which contributes to the development of dementia.

Up to four out of ten dementia is believed to be due to lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. Therefore, there is a chance that you can do something yourself to avoid being affected by the dreaded illness.