Eating this way could ‘de-age’ your brain by nearly a year

Eat your way young.

People who follow a Mediterranean diet — rich in vegetables, seafood, whole grains and olive oil, and low in processed foods and red meat — can slow signs of accelerated brain aging exhibited in obesity, according to new research from the University of Negev in Israel. 

The diet, which originated along the coastlines of Italy, Greece, parts of Spain, France and other Middle Eastern and north African countries, highlights fresh produce, lean proteins and olive oil rich in antioxidants.

The study found that this diet appeared to slow down the brain’s aging by nearly nine months compared with its chronological age.

Researchers recruited 102 participants and took brain scans before any lifestyle changes were made.

Over the course of 18 months, participants were given one of three diets: a Mediterranean diet rich with nuts, fish and chicken instead of red meat; a Mediterranean diet with add-ons including green tea, and a diet that followed average dietary guidelines.

Researchers monitored blood biomarkers, fat deposition and body mass index in addition to testing liver function, cholesterol levels and body weight. They then monitored changes in the brain over the course of the study.

On average, people in the trial lost around 5 pounds, and for every 1% of body weight lost, the participants’ brains appeared almost nine months younger than their chronological age, researchers explained. 

What’s more, slowed brain aging as exhibited when participants followed Mediterranean diets were associated with lower levels of liver fat and improved lipid profile. 

“Our study highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including lower consumption of processed food, sweets, and beverages, in maintaining brain health,” lead author Gidon Levakov, a neuroscientist with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, said in a statement. 

The study, however, had its limitations as the majority of participants were female, and the researchers did not incorporate a control of people who were not on any diet. 

Other research, meanwhile, has shown myriad health effects of following a Mediterranean diet. A separate study, which was published in the journal Heart, found that women adhering to the plant-based diet have nearly a 25% lower chance of heart disease and early death.