Mediterranean diet prevents cognitive impairment

The Mediterranean diet is one high in vegetables, fruits and nuts, legumes, fish and cereals and low in dairy products, meat and fat, with moderate alcohol consumption. It has been proven to be good for the heart and new research suggests that it could also prevent cognitive impairment. Researchers from Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, studied 1,875 people; 1,393 of them had no cognitive difficulties at the start of the study and 482 of them had mild cognitive impairment. The participants were followed up four years after the start of the study. Those who ate the most Mediterranean diet had a 28% lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. Of the participants who had mild cognitive impairment at the start of the study those with the most Mediterranean diet had a 48% smaller risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

You can find out more about this study at

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKTRE5187HL20090209?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&sp=true