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A popular health food staple has been linked to faster cognitive decline, despite being a key part of a popular diet believed to do the opposite, according to data from the Framingham Heart Study via BMJ Journals.
A decade-long study's findings showed that whole grains were unexpectedly associated with a faster decline, despite having been a key component of the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH eating plans, which was previously believed to have significantly reduced Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. The study used repeated MRI scans of 1,647 adults who recorded all the foods they consumed over the years and each person's MIND died was scored on a scale of 0 to 15, with an average score of 6.8, equating to someone who typically eats salads but still indulges in fast food.
Higher MIND diet scores showed significantly slower loss of gray matter, with berries and poultry largely responsible for the positive outcome, while grains like oats and brown rice, as well as cheese, were linked to a quicker decline. The findings were made as researchers looked at individual diet components and are believed to warrant more research.
Previous trials, however, showed that the MIND diet, which includes greens, berries, nuts and olive oil, had positive brain benefits as it lowered high blood pressure and increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, reducing the risk of brain cell damage and Alzheimer's. Studies have found that individuals who followed the diet had an overall 9% reduced risk of dementia and a greater reduction of risk as it continued longer, with a 25% lower risk over a 10-year period.