Younger Brain: Eat Like This – Harvard Research
- Following a green-Mediterranean diet-which incorporates green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai-is associated with slower brain aging, according to research published recently in Clinical Nutrition.
- Neurological conditions like mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease are linked to a higher "brain age gap," where the brain appears older than a person's chronological age.
- Researchers found that higher levels of specific proteins in participants' blood correlated with accelerated brain aging.
Green-Mediterranean Diet Linked to Slower Brain Aging
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Dietary Impact on Brain Health
Following a green-Mediterranean diet-which incorporates green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai-is associated with slower brain aging, according to research published recently in Clinical Nutrition. The study, conducted by researchers at Ben-Gurion University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the University of Leipzig, suggests a potential dietary approach to preserving cognitive function.
The DIRECT PLUS Trial
Neurological conditions like mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease are linked to a higher “brain age gap,” where the brain appears older than a person’s chronological age. to investigate the impact of diet, researchers analyzed data from approximately 300 participants in the DIRECT PLUS trial, a long-term study examining the connection between brain health and diet. Over 18 months, participants followed one of three dietary plans: a standard healthy diet, a customary calorie-restricted Mediterranean diet (low in simple carbohydrates, rich in vegetables, and with poultry/fish replacing red meat), or the green-Mediterranean diet, which added green tea and Mankai.
Protein Levels and Brain Aging
Researchers found that higher levels of specific proteins in participants’ blood correlated with accelerated brain aging. Importantly, these protein levels decreased in those adhering to the green-Mediterranean diet. The study’s authors hypothesize that anti-inflammatory molecules in green tea and Mankai may contribute to this protective effect.
A Dynamic Window into Brain Health
“Studying the circulating proteins in blood allows us to observe, in a real-life setting, how the brain’s aging processes are influenced by lifestyle and dietary changes,” explained Anat meir, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Chan School and co-leader of the study. She added that this approach provides a “dynamic window into brain health,” revealing biological changes before symptoms emerge, and allows for mapping protein signatures to understand how interventions like diet can preserve cognitive function as people age.
Iris Shai, adjunct professor of nutrition at Harvard Chan School, served as the senior author. other Harvard Chan School co-authors included Dong Wang, Frank Hu, and Meir stampfer.