Food Choices May Protect the Brain from Aging

Food Choices May Protect the Brain from Aging
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A new study has provided evidence that dietary choices can significantly influence the rate at which the brain ages, Earth.com revealed. The research, which utilized the concept of a “brain age gap”—the difference between a person’s chronological age and their brain’s apparent age on an MRI—suggests that certain diets can reduce this gap, which is associated with cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Conducted as part of the DIRECT PLUS trial, a long-term study involving nearly 300 adults, the research found that two specific proteins linked to brain inflammation and structural issues, Galectin-9 and Decorin, decreased in participants who followed a “green-MED” diet. This suggests a direct link between dietary changes and biological processes within the brain.

The findings highlight the potential for future blood tests to indicate brain health at an early stage, allowing for proactive interventions like dietary changes to help preserve cognitive function before symptoms of decline become apparent.