Overview
- An analysis of 1,647 Framingham Offspring participants with at least two brain MRIs over about 12 years found that higher adherence to the MIND pattern was associated with slower gray-matter loss and less ventricular enlargement.
- Each three-point increase in adherence corresponded to roughly 20% less gray-matter decline, equating to an estimated 2.5-year delay in brain aging, and about 8% less ventricular growth, or an estimated one-year delay.
- Berries and poultry were the strongest positive contributors in the models, while higher intakes of sweets and fried fast foods tracked with faster deterioration, including changes in the hippocampus.
- Associations were more pronounced in older adults, people who were physically active, and those not overweight, pointing to potential synergy with other healthy behaviors.
- The observational study relied on self-reported food frequency questionnaires and a predominantly White cohort, and it was published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.