Those who consumed a food plan that seems to be closer to MIND diet perhaps are at a lesser risk of losing their cognitive health, found a study featured in the September 18, 2024, online version of the journal Neurology. Study outcomes were comparable for Blacks and whites, and for each group the largest effect size was found for changes in drinking. What these studies do not reveal is that the MIND diet is instrumental in averted cognitive decline, but they show cause and effect.
This diet is a blend of Mediterranean and DASH diet. They include vegetables rich in green leaves such as spinach, kale and collard green among other vegetables. The one suggests taking foods that originate from whole grains, olive oil, poultry, fish and beans and the nuts. It classifies berries more important than most fruits and suggests at least one or more portion of fish in a week.
“As the population ages, there are more people with dementia and therefore, it becomes important to identify modifications to make to reduce the onset of or at least the severity and progression of cognitive decline,” observed Sawyer.
” We were especially interested in knowing whether diet plays a role in the risk of developing cognitive impairment among Black people as well as whites.” The study involved 14,145 people of mean age 64 years. The distribution of participants by color was as follows; 70% white and 30% black. In which they were prospectively followed for an average of 10 years.
The participants completed a food frequency questionnaire which assessed the diets of the participants within the last year. It was advised that researchers analyzed how the foods consumed was related to the MIND diet.
As per the following points:
- The cases for six or more frequencies of green leafy vegetables per week.
- The other vegetables should include one or more servings per day.
- Consumption of two or more servings per week of berries.
- Fish consumption once or more than once a week
- Three weekly servings of beans and alternative one- weekly serving of beans. It has been recommended that people should take five portions of nuts in a single day.
- A warned amount is four or less servings of red meat per week.
Scientists also focused on the aspects of the rate of the deterioration of thinking abilities in the course of getting ill. Participants strictly adhering to MIND diet lost more slowly than participants who did not adhere to diets and that result was improved among Blacks than Whites.
‘These findings require more research, although to compare such changes in effect for men and women and Black and white people, it’s pretty inspiring to think that individuals will probably make some minor alterations within the diet and avert or delay the cognitive issues,’ added Sawyer.
One of the limitations of the study was that participants were more of the elderly Black and white people and therefore the results would not be comparable to other generational or colour people.
Reference:
American. The MIND diet may lower the risk of memory problems later in life, study shows: Neurology
