Green Mediterranean Diet Linked to Slower brain Aging, New Study Finds
Caracas – A collaborative study from Harvard university, Ben Gurion University, and the University of Leipzig suggests a green Mediterranean diet, rich in green tea and the aquatic plant ‘Mankai,’ may significantly slow the progression of cerebral aging. The findings, published in the Clinical Nutrition journal, offer a promising dietary approach to combatting neurodegenerative diseases like cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s.
Researchers analyzed data from approximately 300 participants in the Direct Plus trial, a large and long-term intervention study utilizing magnetic resonance brain imaging. For 18 months, volunteers adhered to one of three dietary plans: a standard healthy diet, a customary Mediterranean diet with caloric restriction, and the green Mediterranean diet. The green Mediterranean group consumed three to four daily cups of green tea,alongside fruits and smoothies incorporating ‘Mankai,’ a type of water lentil.
The study revealed a correlation between higher levels of Galectin-9 and decorin proteins in the blood and accelerated brain aging – a disparity between chronological age and brain age as estimated by MRI.Researchers theorize these proteins may trigger the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, potentially accelerating neurodegenerative processes.
Notably, participants following the green Mediterranean diet exhibited lower levels of both galectin-9 and decorin compared to the other groups.this led researchers to suggest that anti-inflammatory compounds found in green tea and ‘Mankai’ coudl offer a protective effect for the brain.
“The analysis of ‘circulating proteins in the blood’ allows us to observe how cerebral aging processes are influenced by ‘changes in lifestyle and diet,'” explained researcher Anat Meir. She further emphasized that their methodology provides ”a dynamic perspective on brain health,” enabling the detection of “biological changes long before symptoms appear.”
The research highlights the potential for dietary interventions to proactively address brain health and potentially delay the onset of debilitating neurodegenerative conditions.
