We know food is powerful, but can the right diet slow down the clock? Science says possibly — but it helps if you keep your brain health in mind. According to a recent study published in Annals of Neurology , the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet may boost brain health, lower dementia risk , and even help with biological aging . Results were found using data from the ongoing Framingham Heart Study , looking at over 1,600 dementia-free adults over the age of 60.
Researchers studied participants' biological aging from 1991-2008, eventually finding that those who followed the MIND diet had lower aging scores than those who didn't. So what is the MIND diet exactly, and how does it actually work? To figure out what the MIND diet is and how it impacts aging, we turned to experts in longevity and nutrition. They explained exactly how the MIND diet affects the brain, what foods are involved, and what you should know before trying it yourself.
Read on to learn more about the MIND diet, including its potential benefits. Nicola Guess , MD, PhD, is a researcher on the MyFitnessPal Scientific Advisory Council. Martha Theran , RD, is a registered dietitian and educator at the Pritikin Longevity Center .
What Is the MIND Diet? The MIND diet is essentially a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. "Key components of the MIND diet include 'brain foods' such as nuts, berries, olive oil, and green leafy vegetables," says Martha Theran, RD and edu.