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You can slow brain atrophy through management of blood sugar and Mediterranean diet, study suggests
People with “younger brains” typically have better control of their blood sugar, with some opting for the highly celebrated green Mediterranean diet, a landmark trial has shown.
Though there are ways to live a longer life, aging is a natural and unavoidable process. Nonetheless, you can age prematurely due to factors like keeping your phone too close, not getting enough sleep, and even losing a loved one.
Brain atrophy and blood sugar are linked
As we enter a new age of aging research, scientists across the globe are working tirelessly to extend human life spans. A new international study, which is part of the DIRECT PLUS Brain MRI trial, has added to that bank of knowledge.
Your chronological age can be starkly different from your brain age. While this is a natural process, with our hippocampus’ shrinking and lateral ventricles expanding, premature brain aging can result in reduced cognitive function and increased decline.
In the new piece of research, scientists hoped to understand the links between age-related brain atrophy and the Mediterranean diet that earlier shown to reduce atrophy by 50% within 18 months.
Through the DIRECT PLUS trial, one of the longest and largest brain MRI studies conducted to date, and some clever pieces of technology, the researchers highlighted how those who managed to wrangle their blood sugar had a more pronounced reduction in brain aging.
Those with the most profound change consumed more Mediterranean diet meals like green tea and Mankai duckweed shakes.
The green Mediterranean diet was the true winner
The Mediterranean diet has already been shown to slash diabetes risk and tackle skin issues and now it seems that its green counterpart is the true hero of brain health.
Maintaining low blood sugar levels, even within the normal range, shows promise for preserving a younger brain, especially when combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity,” Prof. Iris Shai, from Ben-Gurion University. “Specifically, polyphenols found in plant-based foods may cross the blood-brain barrier and help reduce brain inflammation, which is crucial for memory.”
“This trial offers a safe approach to potentially slow down our brain agingby adopting the components of a green-Mediterranean diet,” Dafna Pachter, a Ph.D. student and the first author of the paper, added.
