Dementia strikes every three seconds. In the time it takes you to read this sentence, someone will have developed memory loss, confusion and behavioural changes, according to the Alzheimer’s Society’s calculations.
It is a frightening thought, but recent months have finally brought signs of a breakthrough in the global battle against Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
The good news is that a new drug, Donanemab, has been shown to slow the progression of the disease by up to 35 per cent, while another large new study, published in the journal BMC Medicine, points to another potential treatment path.
Sticking to a Mediterranean diet may lower your risk of developing all forms of dementia by a quarter, as data from 60,000 people suggests a plant-rich diet may help, regardless of a person’s genetic risk factors.
Mediterranean or MIND diet?
“A Mediterranean diet, composed of wholegrain cereals, fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables and other healthy foods, is excellent for reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Barbara Sahakian, professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge.
Scientists believe it may come down to neurotransmitters, important chemical messengers in the brain. “Acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin, for example, have roles in cognition, including attention and learning, motivation and mood,” says Sahakian. And they are built from the foods we eat.
Sahakian’s early research showed that taking a drug that boosts acetylcholine had a positive effect on the attention spans of Alzheimer’s sufferers. The NHS in the United Kingdom now uses this same mechanism to treat patients through drugs like donepezil, which raise this crucial brain chemical. But, Sahakian points out, acetylcholine levels also increase when people eat lecithin – a substance that occurs naturally in many foods that take pride of place in the Mediterranean diet, including seafood and vegetables. There may, however, be an even more potent diet for the prevention of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay) is a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diets. Both are linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, as well as slower cognitive decline.
“The MIND diet is partially based on the Mediterranean Diet,” explains Sahakian. Alongside whole grains, poultry, fish and olive oil, it also emphasises the regular consumption of leafy green veg and berries, while placing limits on foods like pastries and sweets, red meats, fried foods and butter.
A 2015 study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia suggested that adhering closely to the diet could reduce your likelihood of developing the disease by as much as 53 per cent.
What more do we know about the foods that protect our little grey cells?
Source: smh
