In a study involving 3,790 men and women aged 65 and older,
researchers found participants who ate a diet rich in fruits,
vegetables, olive oil, legumes, fish, and moderate amounts of
wine scored higher on cognitive tests. WebMD reports: The men
and women answered a food-frequency questionnaire, spelling out
in detail which components of the diet they ate and how often…
[Researchers] then classified their adherence to the diet as
low, medium, or high. Low followers scored 12 to 25, medium 26
to 29, and high 30 to 45. The researchers administered several
tests of mental function, such as short- and long-term recall,
and compiled those scores as a ”global cognitive score.” The
tests were given every three years. Those in the top group
knocked two years off their test scores. For instance, if they
were 65, they scored in the typical range for a 63-year-old.
These study results add to the growing body of evidence on the
potential health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. The diet
has previously been linked to ca