Science-Based Diet to Prevent Brain Decay

Can development Alzheimer’s disease with food? Yes, but it’s not magic bullet. The first thing to consider is that the underlying cause of this dementia is still unknown, although there is growing scientific evidence that it is caused by a combination of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors (age, genetics). Regarding the first, there are studies that show that About 1 in 3 cases of Alzheimer’s disease could be avoided with a healthy lifestylesuch as regular exercise, cognitive activity, social relationships, restful sleep and, of course, healthy eating.

Researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) have just published a study. study which shows that unhealthy diets are associated with changes in the brain similar to those that occur with Alzheimer’s disease in healthy people. Published in GeroSciencenew work examines the relationship between a dietary pattern known as DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension o Dietary approaches to cessation Hypertension) And measuring brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG)..

The DASH Diet and Brain Activity

The study was conducted on a sample of 179 adults aged 41 to 81 years. Their daily meals were analyzed and they were classified according to their level of adherence to the DASH diet. Low adherence to this dietary pattern was associated with a lower likelihood of high activity in the body. areas of the brain such as the precuneus, hippocampus or medial frontal areas, which belong to the so-called default neural network. This network is activated spontaneously in a resting state when we perform internal mental tasks such as daydreaming, imagining future events, wandering, or retrieving certain memories from the past. The areas of the brain that make up it are affected in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

“This result is significant because it means that More strict adherence to this type of diet may promote good brain function in healthy people. and potentially even prevent brain deterioration,” he emphasizes. Alejandra Garcia ColomoResearcher at the Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy at UKM. Changes in brain function precede cognitive decline and structural changes by many years, so identifying them in healthy people “gives us a temporary opportunity to improve function and potentially prevent, slow or reverse progression,” the UCM researcher adds.

What is the DASH Diet?

The DASH diet is supported by numerous studies. which support its usefulness in reducing hypertension and risk cardiovascular diseases. To this we must add its effectiveness against the deterioration of the brain, which is closely associated with these pathologies.

This is very similar to Mediterranean dietbecause it is based on abundant consumption fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, legumes, fish and white meat. He also aims to reduce his intake of saturated fat, ultra-processed foods, red meat, sugary drinks and alcohol. And special attention is paid to two very useful measures to lower blood pressure: reduce salt intake and opt for low-fat dairy products against integers. It is also recommended to consume foods rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium and fiber, which together help lower blood pressure.

On the other hand, this diet is not aimed solely at promoting olive oil but mainly vegetable oils, which also include sunflower, soybean or corn. At the same time, advises to give up animal fatsfor example, butter.

Literature

• Trabado-Fernandez A., García-Colomo A., Cuadrado-Soto E. et al. (2024). Association of the DASH diet and magnetoencephalography in adults without dementia with varying levels of Alzheimer’s disease risk. GeroScience. DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01361-3