As our population continues to age, more people have been and will continue to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. While some researchers are looking at ways to cure it, others are working on how to prevent it – and researchers at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center believe they have discovered a useful tool that may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Their findings, which were published in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, showed, at least observationally, that the MIND diet may ward off the effects such as cognitive decline and memory impairment. MIND stands for “Mediterranean- Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay” diet. The MIND diet combines parts of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet.
The 923 people who participated in the study were between 58 and 98 years old, and none had been previously diagnosed with any type of dementia. At the end of the 4 ½-year study, those who closely followed the diet guidelines were determined to be at a 53% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s. And even those who only moderately adhered to the diet had their risk reduced by 35%. Those who didn’t follow the study closely showed no decrease in risk.
Of particular note, those who ate at least one serving of green vegetables each day had a “dramatic decrease in the rate of cognitive decline…the equivalent of being 11 years younger in age,” according to Dr. Martha Clare Morris, professor of neurological epidemiology at Rush.
These findings might not be surprising to some people – it’s known that a healthy diet can reduce some health risks. But what exactly is the MIND diet? It lists healthy foods, which the diet recommends you should consume, and unhealthy foods, which you should avoid:
Healthy foods:
- Beans
- Berries
- Fish
- Green leafy vegetables
- Nuts
- Olive oil
- Other vegetables
- Poultry
- Whole grains
- Wine
Unhealthy foods:
- Butter and stick margarine
- Cheese
- Fried or fast food
- Pastries and sweets
- Red meats
At Independence-4-Seniors, two of the many services we provide include meal preparation and grocery shopping – both of which may help ensure a healthy diet. Our free home care assessment allows caregivers to learn if we can help with meal preparation or any other at-home service that their loved one may need, such as assistance with activities of daily living, light housekeeping, transportation, and more.
If you are looking for assistance for your loved one with depression or dementia and you are in Cook, DuPage, Will or Kane County in Illinois, contact Independence-4-Seniors for more information.