Diet Slashes Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Load up on leafy greens, olive oil, nuts rather than saturated fat

By Marie Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 12, 2010 5:35 PM CDT

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Diet Slashes Risk of Alzheimer's Disease — A diet high in green, leafy vegetables, salad dressing, nuts, and fish has been associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, researchers said today. (?diekatrin)

Fill up on leafy green vegetables, nuts, poultry, and fish rather than red meat, butter, and full-fat dairy, and you may cut your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by as much as 40%, scientists said today. "We know that these foods are definitely helpful for other conditions and diseases, and now we have this hint that they may be helpful for brain diseases," a researcher tells Bloomberg. "It makes sense to follow this diet."

Researchers tracked 2,148 people over age 65 and found that those who followed diets high in nutrients such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, and vitamin B12 were less likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who consumed large amounts of saturated fats. " If we follow this diet, that means the risk of getting the disease will be lowered for the population, " another researcher tells Reuters. (Read more diet stories.)