Mediterranean Diet Wards Off Alzheimer's and Dementia, Senior Care KC

New research suggests that a diet like the Mediterranean Diet might not only protect you from stroke and heart disease, but also from Alzheimer's and Dementia!  According to Dr. Oz, what's good for the heart is good for the brain.

The Mediterranean Diet is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats like olive oil and nuts, fish, legumes, and moderate consumption of dairy products like cheese and yogurt, and eliminating meats and other fats in the normal American diet.  This diet has made headlines in recent years for its heart healthy benefits, and other dietary benefits, but new studies show that it has brain benefits as well! 

The study lasted nearly 6 years, consisted of 721 participants who were divided into groups based upon how strictly they adhered to the diet.  Those who adhered moderately-strictly showed a reduction of risk by 21-36%Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, a neurologist with Columbia University Medical Center, the studies primary researcher in a statement said, "In this study, not eating a Mediterranean-like diet had about the same effect on the brain as having high blood pressure."

The diet helps combat strokes - which impair memory function, and also helps synapses fire quickly, keeping you sharp mentally.

Talk to your doctor about a diet that is right for you.  Ask if the Mediterranean Diet may help you ward off some ailments that you may be predisposed to. 

If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from memory decline, download and print this free mini mental state examination.  It only takes about 10 minutes to administer. 

For more RESOURCES on Alzeheimer's Disease or caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease, visit our RESOURCE LIBRARY.