Individuals who follow an alkaline diet that focuses on the consumption of whole grains, vegetables and fruits may want to consider expanding their horizons to a similar diet know as the Mediterranean, which also incorporates fish and fatty acids.
Findings that were presented during the American Academy of Neurologys 62nd Annual Meeting indicated that individuals who follow a Mediterranean diet may be at a lower risk for brain damage and thinking problems.
Researchers examined 712 patients and their diets over the course of six years. They gave the participants MRI scans that revealed that 238 of these individuals had some form of brain damage.
The study claims that people who followed a Mediterranean diet were 36 percent less likely to suffer from cognitive problems. Individuals who moderately followed the plan were 21 percent less likely to have brain issues. Scientists noticed a pattern between these findings and high blood pressure.
“The relationship between this type of brain damage and the Mediterranean diet was comparable with that of high blood pressure,” said study author Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas. “In this study, not eating a Mediterranean-like diet had about the same effect on the brain as having high blood pressure.”