Groundbreaking Israeli Study Suggests the Mediterranean Diets May Slow Brain Aging

For many people, misplacing their glasses or car keys is often attributed to “senior moments.” Especially if the glasses are perched on their head or the keys are in their hands. This is a humorous way to explain away the signs of an aging brain and the loss of memory that accompanies it.

But now, there is hope that brain aging can be significantly slowed.  A ground breaking study from Ben Gurion University in Israel  has shown how eating the Green Mediterranean diet (Green-Med) – that centers around healthy foods like olive oil, whole grains, nuts, fish, and plants – could help slow brain aging and the cognitive decline that goes with it.

As people age, the hippocampus usually decreases in size, according to MedicalNewsToday, while the lateral ventricles expand. This is a natural part of aging but some people’s brain age is different from their chronological age. A younger brain age than your actual age means better cognitive health.

DIRECT PLUS Brain MRI trial

The Israeli trial was conducted by an international team and is part of the DIRECT PLUS Brain MRI trial – one of the longest and largest MRI studies with 300 participants. The study showed how diet can influence your brain, according to a news release from Ben Gurion University.

The new study piggybacked on research that was published two years earlier that showed that following one of the Mediterranean diets (the traditional one or the Green-Med) slowed age-related brain atrophy by 50 percent in 18 months.

The new study wanted to find out why. Using an FDA-authorized tool called NeuroQuant, the researchers were able to use the brain-MRI data to see if improved glycemic control could slow brain aging. The study found that lowering blood sugar could be the most important factor in slowing age-related brain changes.

The Green-Med diet is best

While both diets showed promise, the Green-Med is better for blood sugar control, and for brain health. That’s because the diet is rich in polyphenols due to the inclusion of green tea and Makai (duck weed), an aquatic plant that is high in protein. The Green-Med eliminates red meat completely.

But if duck weed shakes aren’t your thing, there are still many benefits to the traditional Mediterranean diet. “The Mediterranean diet has always been held up as one of the healthiest plans we know of,” Sharon Palmer, RDN, a plant-based dietitian based in Duarte, California, told Everyday Health.

She added that adding green tea and cutting out red meat will still give you a host of health benefits. After all, the diet is based on the foods that are a part of the diet of people who live in the countries in the Mediterranean region – where people are known for their health and longevity, according to Everyday Health.

It’s not too early or too late to start taking care of your brain health. Eating the right foods is an easy way to keep your brain-age younger than your actual age. And that may make senior moments a distant memory.