The enduring reign of the Mediterranean diet as the top-ranked diet by the U.S. News & World Report for seven consecutive years
underscores its remarkable impact on overall health.
A recent investigation detailed in the pages of JAMA Neurology
underscores the cognitive benefits of adhering to the Mediterranean diet, even
amidst the specter of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from Rush University in
Chicago discovered that individuals adhering to this dietary regimen exhibited
heightened cognitive function, despite posthumous indications of dementia in
their brains.
Rooted in the culinary traditions of 21 nations bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, this diet champions the consumption of fresh greens, fruits,
fish, nuts, and olives. Emphasizing plant-based foods, grains, and lean
poultry, the Mediterranean diet advocates for liberal use of extra-virgin olive
oil. Click here.....
Eschewing a rigid focus on specific nutrients or food
categories, this diet instead champions the concept of dietary diversity and
quality. Encouraging individuals to incorporate a plethora of foods such as
fruits, vegetables, seafood, olive oil, and whole grains onto their plates.
Drawing on data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a
longitudinal study spanning from 1997 to 2022 with up to 24 years of follow-up,
researchers examined 586 subjects who passed away at an average age of 91.
These participants had previously disclosed lifestyle factors, including
smoking habits, alcohol consumption, exercise frequency, adherence to the
Mediterranean diet, and cognitive engagement.
The assessment of a healthy lifestyle was derived from
various factors and graded on a scale of one to five. Higher scores were
indicative of a healthier lifestyle and better cognitive function as one
approached the end of life.
These scores were juxtaposed with the cognitive function
score obtained less than a year before the individual's demise.
Following death, the brains were extracted from the bodies
of the subjects, and researchers scrutinized them for indications of amyloid
beta and tau tangles—two primary markers of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia, rather than being a distinct ailment, is
characterized as a condition marked by diminished capacity to recall, reason,
or make decisions, which hinders routine activities, as per the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Alzheimer’s constitutes the most prevalent form
of dementia. The study indicated that, despite signs of Alzheimer’s in
participants' brains, adherence to a healthy lifestyle seemed to confer some
degree of protection against cognitive decline.
It is hypothesized that the balanced nature of the diet
could mitigate cognitive decline by promoting satiety and reducing the
likelihood of indulging in junk food and snacks. A study from October 2023
suggested that the Mediterranean diet might alleviate symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder through its influence on the gut microbiome.
Recent research has also demonstrated that adhering to this
diet could decrease the risk of premature death by 29%, with women exhibiting a
nearly 25% lower likelihood of heart disease and premature mortality.
A prior investigation conducted by Harvard University
identified the Mediterranean diet as one of four prevalent healthy eating
patterns that could collectively reduce the risk of premature death by up to 20%.