Late-Life Adoption of MIND Diet Connected to Lowered Dementia Risk
Here's a refreshed, informal version of the article:
The latest numbers show that around the globe, approximately 57 million individuals are living with dementia, with Alzheimer's account for 60-70% of those cases. Since its inception in 2015, a diet called MIND has been linked to a decreased risk of dementia, and the latest findings claim following this eating regimen may even lower the risk for late-life starters.
First concocted by researchers at Rush University Medical Center, the MIND diet, short for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, is essentially a fusion of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. The diet emphasizes certain foods that are beneficial for the brain and minimizes those that negatively impact it.
Previous studies have hinted that the MIND diet may decrease the risk of cognitive impairment, with a stronger association observed for Alzheimer's disease. Now, a recent study presented at NUTRITION 2025, the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, suggests that even if you don't start following the MIND diet until later in life, you can reduce the risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer's.
The benefits were particularly noticeable for African American, Latino, and white participants in the study. The research, however, is still in the process of peer review and has not yet been published in a specialized journal.
So, what exactly is the MIND diet?
The diet consists of ten brain-healthy food groups and five brain-unhealthy groups. Scientists from the Pacific Program at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, who led the study, calculated MIND diet scores using Morris' methods in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. They discovered that individuals with the highest MIND diet scores had a 9% lower risk of developing dementia. For participants identifying as African American, Latino, or white, this reduced risk rate increased to 13%.
Researchers also found that study participants who improved their adherence to the MIND diet over ten years lowered their dementia risk by 25%. In essence, it's never too late to adopt a healthier diet to potentially prevent dementia.
According to the World Health Organization, the burden of dementia continues to grow, and pharmacological treatments remain limited. Reducing modifiable risk factors to prevent dementia is a top priority in public health. Improving diet quality as we age may still have a positive impact on dementia prevention.
While more research is needed, following a diet like the MIND diet may help boost brain health and potentially reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Dick Richard, a registered dietitian nutritionist, offers some tips for those wanting to try the MIND diet, such as incorporating berries, leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, beans, non-starchy vegetables, cold water fatty fish, and olive oil into their meals.
- The MIND diet, a fusion of Mediterranean and DASH diets, has been linked to a decreased risk of dementia and may even lower the risk for late-life starters.
- Following this diet is particularly beneficial for those dealing with neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, because its focus is on foods that are beneficial for brain health.
- A recent study presented at NUTRION 2025 suggests that starting the MIND diet later in life can still reduce the risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer's, particularly for African American, Latino, and white participants.
- The MIND diet consists of ten brain-healthy food groups, including berries, leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, beans, non-starchy vegetables, cold water fatty fish, and olive oil, which are encouraged, while five food groups are minimized due to their negative impact on the brain.
- Research has shown that improving adherence to the MIND diet over ten years can lower the dementia risk by 25%, emphasizing that it's never too late to adopt a healthier diet for potential dementia prevention.
- In the context of mental health and medical conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease, improving diet quality through health-and-wellness practices and fitness-and-exercise can be crucial steps towards reducing the burden on both individuals and public health.
- As pharmacological treatments for dementia remain limited, reducing modifiable risk factors and adopting dietary practices like the MIND diet is a top priority in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, as suggested by the World Health Organization.
