Adhering to the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is linked with a reduced risk of dementia in middle-aged and older adults, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry.
The MIND diet, which incorporates aspects of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, targets the aging brain to attenuate the risk of dementia, which stands as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It emphasizes the consumption of plant-based foods, and discourages the intake of both animal and high saturated fats. As detailed by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a few guideline suggestions for the MIND diet include:
To assess the correlation between the MIND diet and the risk of dementia, the researchers examined three prospective studies and one meta-analysis. Overall, they analyzed 8,358 participants from the Whitehall II study, 6,758 participants from the Health and Retirement Study, and 3,020 participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort. The meta-analysis consisted of 11 cohort studies comprised of 224 049 participants. MIND diet scoring was performed on a 0 to 15 scale, with a higher score suggesting a greater adherence to the diet. The main endpoint of interest was defined as all-cause dementia. Study data were analyzed from May 25 to September 1, 2022.