Mediterranean diet keeps you sharp into old age

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08 April 2009

If you want to stay mentally sharp into old age, always eat the Mediterranean diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and olive oil.

The diet can help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and now a new study has found that it also protects against general cognitive decline often associated with ageing.

In a study of 1,393 healthy participants who were tracked for more than four years, those who stayed close to the Mediterranean diet almost halved their chances of suffering mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared with those whose diets included very little fresh fruits, vegetables, and olive oil.

(Source: Archives of Neurology, 2009; 65: 216-25).

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