MIND Diet May Lower Alzheimer’s Risk, Study ⁣Finds

Updated June 03, 2025
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Adopting specific dietary patterns may‍ reduce⁤ the risk of dementia, even in later years, according to new research. Preliminary findings presented at the American Society ⁢for Nutrition’s annual conference ‍suggest the MIND diet could play a important role in cognitive⁤ health.

The study revealed that participants⁢ who followed the MIND diet ⁤were, on average, 9% less likely to develop dementia. The⁣ MIND diet, or Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, combines ⁤elements of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet, which is designed to combat hypertension.

Song-Yi Park, PhD, an associate professor at the university of Hawaii at Manoa⁣ and led author of the study, said the findings confirm that healthy eating habits in mid- to late-life, ⁤and improvements to those habits over time,‍ may help prevent alzheimer’s and related dementias. The research also explored how the MIND ⁣diet’s cognitive benefits varied across racial and⁤ ethnic groups.

The MIND diet prioritizes leafy⁤ greens,⁤ berries, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, and olive oil. It advises limiting red meat, cheese, sweets, and fried or fast foods. With over seven million Americans living with ‍Alzheimer’s, researchers are keen to determine if dietary strategies like the MIND diet ‍can prevent or delay age-related cognitive decline.

Park’s team analyzed data⁤ from nearly ‍93,000⁢ U.S. adults participating in⁢ the Multiethnic Cohort Study, which began in the 1990s. Participants, aged 45 to 75⁤ at the study’s start,‍ completed food questionnaires at baseline and after 10 years.Over that period, more than 21,000 were diagnosed ⁣with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.

The study found that⁢ the MIND diet had a ‍stronger and more consistent association with reduced⁢ dementia risk compared to the Mediterranean and⁤ DASH diets alone,‍ as well as ⁤the Healthy Eating index 2015. Greater adherence to the MIND diet at the study’s outset was linked to a 9% lower dementia risk. This association was more pronounced⁤ among Latino, white, and African American participants, who experienced roughly ⁣a⁣ 13% lower risk.⁤ However, the link was less evident in Asian American and Native Hawaiian groups.

Park suggested that differing diets among Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians might offer their own cognitive advantages. Current data indicates that dementia rates in Asian Americans tend to be lower ‍than ‍in other groups.

The study also indicated ⁤that participants who improved their adherence to the MIND diet over a decade had a 25% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those whose adherence declined. This trend was observed across various demographics, including those who initially had poor adherence, younger and older adults, and most ethnic backgrounds.

⁣ ‍ “This shows that maintaining a healthy diet and improving ‍diet quality are still crucial, even for older adults, to prevent dementia,” Park said.

Experts agree that the recent findings on the MIND diet’s cognitive ‍benefits are encouraging, but further research is needed.Park noted that the ⁤study relies on self-reported dietary data, which may contain inaccuracies.

Courtney Pelitera, RD, a registered dietitian in Raleigh, N.C., noted the MIND diet combines the Mediterranean and DASH diets, both already considered beneficial for⁢ overall health. Katherine Brooking, RD, a New York City-based registered ⁤dietitian, suggests starting with small,⁤ manageable changes to incorporate the MIND diet.

What’s⁢ next

Future studies will aim to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms by ⁤which the MIND‍ diet may protect against ‍cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. ⁢Researchers hope to refine dietary recommendations for ‍optimal brain⁤ health.