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Nutrition and diet
Preventive nutrition
A Mediterranean diet can prevent dementia and memory loss
Mediterranean nutrition is probably the star of diets in the world, but it does not only affect your weight.
A new study has found its amazing and long-lasting effect on the brain
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Mediterranean diet
diet
diet
brain
Alzheimer's
dementia
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Monday, 10 May 2021, 06:16
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Israel's diet.
Mediterranean diet (Photo: ShutterStock)
In recent years, the whole world has been talking about a Mediterranean diet, but here in Israel it is the daily diet of many.
Quite a few studies have already dealt with its health benefits and a new study recently published found that it may reduce the risk of dementia by interfering with the accumulation of two proteins, amyloid and tau, which are the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
"Evidence that 'you are what you eat' when it comes to brain health continues to accumulate," said Dr. Richard Isaacson, director of the Alzheimer's Clinic at Will Cornell Hospital and New York-Presbyterian Hospital in an interview with CNN.
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To the full article
"In this important study, the researchers showed that it is possible not only to improve cognitive function - and especially memory - but also to reduce the risk of pathology of Alzheimer's disease," said Isaacson, who was not involved in the study.
"For every point of higher compliance in the Mediterranean diet, people had one extra year less in brain aging. It's amazing," Isaacson added.
"Most people are not aware that it is possible to take control of brain health, however this study shows us just that."
How does the diet work?
In recent years, many studies have been conducted on the nutrition of people in the Mediterranean basin - that is, here in Israel, Greece and also in Italy and Spain.
These studies have shown that people living in these areas suffer less from heart disease, obesity and excess cholesterol.
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The reason for this, the researchers found, is a diet based mainly on good fats such as olive oil, nuts, avocados and tahini, as well as an abundance of vegetables, fruits and legumes.
This menu includes lots of sea fish and moderate consumption of chicken.
Alcohol lovers will also be happy to find that the menu even allows drinking red wine every day, which is known for its health benefits, if drunk in moderation.
Nutrition affects the brain.
Brain scan (Photo: ShutterStock)
The current study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, examined 343 people at high risk for Alzheimer's and compared them to 169 cognitively normal subjects.
The researchers tested each person's cognitive skills, including language, memory and performance functions, and used brain scans to measure brain volume.
The spinal fluid of 226 participants was also tested for biological markers of amyloid and tau protein.
Respondents were then asked how much they follow the Mediterranean diet.
After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, and education, the study found that people who did not adhere to dietary principles had more signs of amyloid and tau accumulation in the spinal fluid than those who adhered to the diet.
In addition, for every point a person lost when they did not meet the Mediterranean diet, brain scans revealed another year of brain aging in areas associated with Alzheimer’s, such as the hippocampus.
Olive oil and fish
"These results add to the body of evidence showing that what you eat may affect your memory skills later on," said research author Tomaso Ballerini, a postdoctoral fellow at the German Center for Capital Degenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany.
"One question remains unanswered: How exactly does the Mediterranean diet protect against Alzheimer's?"
Said Isaacson.
Although more research is needed, it is likely that a combination of factors work "synergistically together," he added, "such as reducing inflammation, increasing antioxidants that protect and provide the brain with healthy omega-3 fish fats - such as salmon - as well as monounsaturated fats from olive oil. Class. "
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