The Link Between Food, Nutrition, and Alzheimer’s
Written by
Jessica Nunez, Dietetic Intern, Immaculata University, Lower Bucks Hospital
June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Food is the fuel that our brain needs to keep us running. Just like a car, the type of ‘fuel ‘or food we choose affects the way our brain operates along with our mood. When we feed our bodies premium fuel, our brain can function at its best. Quality food contains lots of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that feed the brain. Like an expensive car, your brain can be damaged when not ingesting the right fuel. The food that we feed our brain can be damaging if we consume other food sources that are not of high quality. When eating processed or refined foods, it can be damaging to our body. For example, a diet that is high in refined sugar can affect the regulation of insulin in the body and cause inflammation. Studies have shown a connection between diets high in refined sugars and mood disorders. Research also indicates that poor nutrition can contribute to tissue injury in the brain, leading to conditions like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease that progressively declines cognitive ability and function and is a frequent form of dementia. It is estimated that 6.5 million Americans over 65 have AD- in fact, research shows that every 3 seconds someone in the world develops dementia. Currently, there is no cure for AD, however, there are measures that have been effective at slowing the progression of the disease. AD research is finding a strong correlation between diet and lifestyle. Nutritional intervention can be an approach that helps reduce the onset/development of AD. The Mediterranean diet which focuses on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats has shown promising results. A MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) combines the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, and foods linked to preventing dementia.
The MIND diet would include:
- Berries – 2 servings/week (minimal)
- Leafy green vegetables- 6 servings/ week (minimal)
- Other vegetables- 1 serving/day
- Whole grains- 3 servings/ day
- Beans- 3 servings/week
- Nuts-5 servings/week Fish- 1 serving/week
- Poultry- 2 servings/week
- Wine- 1 glass/day
- Olive oil low amounts of- eggs, red meat, cheese, and butter
New studies show that adults following the MIND diet had a slower rate of cognitive decline and reduced their risk for AD. While this study is promising, not all studies have concluded a link between eating well and an increase in cognition. In general, the evidence suggests but does not provide evidence that following a MIND, Mediterranean, or other diet can reduce the risk for AD. While scientists work to discover why the Mediterranean diet could help AD risk and slow progression, we do know the Mediterranean diet can help protect the brain through antioxidants and anti-inflammatory. Author Amit Kalantri said, “Take care of your car in the garage, and the car will take care of you on the road.” The right fuel for our body is not only effective at making us feel good day to day, but it also helps us run efficiently over time, like an expensive car so that we can enjoy the journey through life.