Mediterranean Diet, Exercise and the Brain

The Mediterranean diet and exercise can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests. This diet includes lots of vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains and healthy fats. It includes little meat except for fish. The study included 1,880 adults, average age 77. They got regular tests of thinking and memory. They also reported on their diet and exercise habits. Within about 5 years, 282 developed Alzheimer’s disease. The rate was 19% for those who were not very active and did not follow a Mediterranean diet. It was only 12% for those who exercised most and followed the diet most closely. The study was in the Journal of the American Medical Association. A second study looked only at diet for 1,410 older adults. Those who ate a Mediterranean diet showed slower mental decline on one test but not other tests. There was no difference in the Alzheimer’s rate.