Improve Brain Health One Meal at a Time
Dear Caregivers,
“You are what you eat,” as the old saying goes, and those of us in the medical realm who treat aging Americans have long suspected that diet plays a big role in a person’s mental health. Now a new study confirms that there is a strong relationship between following the so-called MIND diet and reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
In a study following a group of more than 93,000 Americans who gave details about what they ate on a regular basis, researchers found that those people who followed the MIND diet — eating primarily green leafy vegetables, whole grains, berries, and lean meat — had an overall 9% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The reduced risk was even more impressive — 13% — in those in the group who are Black, Latino, or white.
And it's never too late to get started: The study showed an impact even in people in the study who began following the MIND diet later in their life. At the same time, other studies have shown that the MIND diet can delay the progression of Alzheimer’s even in those people who already have the disease.
All this points to the fact that the MIND diet is a delicious way to improve the mental health of you and your loved one, and might be something you’d like to try. See below for more information on the MIND diet, food, and Alzheimer’s:
The Mind Diet: Meal Planning to Fuel the Brain:
The MIND diet is associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Here's a guide.
How to Combine the MIND Diet and the Diabetic Diet
Even if you have diabetes, there are ways to work the MIND diet, which has been shown to lower the risk of mental decline, into your meal plan. Here’s how.
Common Challenges in Eating and Appetite and How to Address Them:
Here are a nutritionist’s favorite tips that caregivers can use to manage the common challenges in their loved one’s appetite and eating habits.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
— Hippocrates
