Researchers at Rush University in Chicago found that older adults who followed a Mediterranean diet scored higher on cognitive ability tests. results published In JAMA Neurology.
The researchers included 586 people who were studied simultaneously as part of the Rush Memory and Aging Project, which aims to study the health of older Americans. Researchers recorded the participants’ nutritional and physical habits and collected information about their places of employment, bad habits and marital status.
A health behavior adherence score was formulated for each participant based on self-reported factors. A total of one to five points can be achieved.
Cognitive abilities were assessed several times throughout the study. Scientists focused on primary test results and indicators of mental acuity recorded in late old age. They found that participants who followed the Mediterranean diet (eating vegetables, fruits, grains, fish, cheese, olive oil) and an overall healthy lifestyle had better cognitive abilities in old age than their peers.
After the participants died, scientists examined their brains for signs of Alzheimer’s disease, such as beta-amyloid and tau plaques. The results showed that even in the presence of toxic protein deposits, the participants’ Mediterranean diet and lifestyle protected them from developing cognitive impairment.
Previous scientists in the name A habit that may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.