Research indicates that a Mediterranean diet coupled with physical exercise is not only good for cardiovascular health, but it’s equally good for brain health.
Columbia University Medical Center researchers examined about 2,000 older New York City residents as part of the longitudinal study. Every year and a half, participants received brain and psychological tests and a dietary questionnaire outlining the food they ate. After approximately five years of follow-up evaluations, about 300 of the original participants had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Physically active older adults were found to be about 50% less likely to have developed Alzheimer’s than those living sedentary lifestyles. Those adhering most strongly to the Mediterranean diet were about 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
The diet was defined as comprising more fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fish; less meat and dairy; and a high ratio of monounsaturated fats (e.g., olive oil) to saturated fats (e.g., red meat).
Source: Scarmeas, M., Luchsinger, Jl, Schupf, N. et al. 2009. Physical Activity, Diet, and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of the American Medical Association 302(6): 627-637.