HMN 2025: How MIND eating regimen could decrease threat of Alzheimer’s illness at any age

A brand new University of Hawai?i Cancer Center study has discovered that individuals who adopted a dietary sample generally known as the MIND eating regimen have been considerably much less more likely to develop Alzheimer’s illness or associated types of dementia—even when they made brain-healthy meals decisions later in life.

The MIND eating regimen—quick for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay—combines components of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets. It emphasizes confirmed brain-healthy meals like leafy greens, berries, nuts and olive oil. The study relies on information from almost 93,000 U.S. adults within the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC), a landmark study co-led by the UH Cancer Center and the University of Southern California.

“Our study findings verify that wholesome dietary patterns in mid to late life and their enchancment over time could forestall Alzheimer’s and associated dementias,” mentioned lead writer Song-Yi Park, professor within the UH Cancer Center’s Population Sciences within the Pacific Program.

Improving eating regimen over time reveals main advantages

Participants have been aged 45–75 at baseline, and greater than 21,000 developed dementia through the follow-up years. Those who improved their adherence to the MIND eating regimen over 10 years had a 25% decrease threat of dementia in comparison with these whose adherence declined.

“The take-home message is encouraging,” Park mentioned. “It’s by no means too late to make modifications. Eating extra plant-based, nutrient-rich meals—even later in life—can shield your mind.”

Diet-dementia hyperlink varies by race, ethnicity

The outcomes confirmed a stronger threat discount amongst African American, Latino and white members, however not amongst Native Hawaiian or Asian American teams. Researchers imagine cultural dietary patterns and naturally decrease dementia charges in some populations could clarify the variations.

“We discovered that the protecting relationship between a nutritious diet and dementia was extra pronounced amongst African Americans, Latinos and whites, whereas it was not as obvious amongst Asian Americans and confirmed a weaker development in Native Hawaiians,” Park mentioned.

The findings, launched throughout Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, have been offered at NUTRITION 2025, the annual assembly of the American Society for Nutrition. Authors included 4 UH Cancer Center researchers, Park, Lynne R. Wilkens, Lo?c Le Marchand and Unhee Lim, and collaborators from USC and the Pacific Health Research and Education Institute.

“This study highlights the ability of huge datasets and analysis generated by our University of Hawai?i Cancer Center researchers,” mentioned UH Cancer Center Director Naoto T. Ueno. “These findings supply steering and hope.”