Med diet may cut Alzheimer's risk

by Joe DiStefano, Posted Apr 19th 2006 @ 2:09PM

Turmeric and black currants have some company as foodstuffs that may help stave off Alzheimer's disease. The Mediterranean diet, with its high concentration of fruits, vegetables, grains, olive oil and fish has been touted since the 90s as heart healthy. Now a study from Columbia University says those who follow it have a 40 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's than those who eat a conventional American diet.

The study conducted by Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, is the first that links a mental benefit to the diet. Scarmeas says he can't pinpoint any particular food, but thinks that the the diet's high level of antioxidant rich foods may hold the key. Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos, professor of cancer prevention and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, who himself adheres to the Mediterranean diet, and has also studied its benefits, points out that it includes "moderate consumption of alcohol, usually in the form of wine during dinner."

[image: USA Swimming Foundation]

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Filed Under: Science, Did you know?, Ingredients, Drink Recipes
Tags: Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer'sDisease, america, Columbia University, ColumbiaUniversity, did you know, Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, Dr.NikolaosScarmeas, fish, fruit, grains, mediterranean, Mediterranean diet, MediterraneanDiet, vegetables, wine