“greenโฃ Mediterranean Diet” Linked โto Slower Brain Aging,New Research Suggests
October 5,2025 -โ A dietary approach emphasizing plant-based foods and healthy fats,known as the “Green Mediterranean diet,” appears to considerably slow cognitive decline and preserve โbrain health as people age,according to research presented this week. The findings, which build on previous studies demonstrating the benefitsโฃ of the traditional Mediterranean diet, suggest a focused emphasis on green plant foods may offer even greater neuroprotective effects. This has major implications for the โฃprojected โrise in age-related โคdementia cases globally, possibly offeringโค a modifiable lifestyle factor to mitigate risk.
The Green โฃMediterranean diet,differing from its traditional counterpart,prioritizes higher consumption of โขvegetables – especially leafy โฃgreens – alongside limited meat intake and a focus on plant-based proteins. Researchers believe the abundance โof polyphenols and other beneficial compounds in these foods contribute to reduced inflammationโ and oxidative โstress, key drivers of age-related cognitive decline. With the global population aging rapidly, and dementia rates โprojected to soar, identifying accessible and effective preventative strategies is a critical public health priority.
The โขstudy, conductedโฃ byโ researchers at Ben-Gurion University โof the negev in Israel, involved over 300 adults aged 65-75.โ Participants were randomly assigned to one of three dietary groups forโข 18 months: a traditionalโ Mediterranean diet, a Green Mediterranean diet, and a โcontrol group instructed toโ follow โtheir usual โฃdietary habits.Cognitive function was assessed at the beginning and end of the โstudy using a comprehensive batteryโค ofโค tests.
Results indicated that โparticipants following the Green Mediterranean diet exhibited the most โsignificant โimprovements in cognitive function, including memory, attention, and processing speed.Specifically, theโ Greenโ Mediterranean โฃdiet groupโ showed a โ14% enhancement in a global cognitive โscore comparedโค toโค theโ control group. The โคtraditional Mediterranean diet group also showed improvements, but to a lesser extent.
“We observedโฃ that the Green Mediterranean diet had a โmore pronounced effect onโ slowingโฃ age-related cognitive decline than the traditional Mediterranean diet,” explained Dr. โGal Tsaban, lead researcher on the study.”Thisโ suggests thatโฃ increasing โขthe intake of green plant foods, while reducingโข meat consumption, โcan have a substantial impactโค on brain โฃhealth.”
The researchers hypothesize that the increased intake of polyphenols, found abundantly in vegetables like spinach, kale, and broccoli, plays a crucial role in protecting brain cells fromโ damage. โ Polyphenols are known for their โฃantioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can definitely help combat the processes that contribute to โขneurodegenerative diseases.
while further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine the optimal dietary composition, โthe study provides compelling evidence that the Green Mediterranean diet could be a powerful tool โฃfor preserving cognitiveโข function and promoting healthy brain aging. Experts recommend incorporating more leafy greens, vegetables, โand plant-based proteins into your โdiet, alongsideโฃ healthy fats like olive oil,โ to reap the potentialโ benefits.
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