We all understand that plant rich diets are good for our health, but did you know that eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables can also help protect your brain function as you age? That's the idea behind the MIND diet, which stands for Mediterranean-DASH diet intervention for neurodegenerative delay. Neurodegenerative diseases include problems like dementia and Alzheimer's disease, both of which are becoming more common in the US¹. While certain risk factors like age and family history can't be changed, new research is showing that lifestyle factors can play a big role in prevention.

This is where the MIND diet comes in. A large study followed nearly 1000 participants for more than four years during the Memory and Aging Project, and they found that this diet had the largest positive impact on brain health². This diet focuses on foods that promote brain health like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds and berries. It encourages limiting other foods like saturated fat, which is found in red meat, pastries, butter, and fried foods.

Learn more about the MIND diet and how to incorporate it into your life with our informative handout!

Download the Handout

1. What is alzheimer's disease? (2020) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

2. Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Barnes LL, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging. Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Sep;11(9):1015-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.04.011. Epub 2015 Jun 15. PMID: 26086182; PMCID: PMC4581900.