Recent evidence points to the Mediterranean food plan as a wonderful buffer against cognitive decline and dementia.

As probably the most common neurodegenerative diseases today, there are currently over 6 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease within the U.S., and that number can be expected to go as much as as much as 13 million come 2050.

Recent research suggests that strictly adhering to the so-called Mediterranean food plan can provide greater cognition while also significantly reducing the danger of memory decline.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study was done on over 6,000 Hispanic and Latino individuals who usually followed the food plan. The participants accomplished food plan assessments and underwent two cognition tests.

Of the group, 35.8% loosely followed the food plan, 45.4% moderately adhered to it, while the remaining 18.8% strictly followed the eating plan.

The researchers found that strict adherence to the food plan seemingly helped reduce the danger of affected by Alzheimer’s disease in Hispanic and Latino individuals.

“These findings support what other studies have found and strengthen the link between cognitive health and the Mediterranean Diet. It’s great that the population was specifically Latino/Hispanic and that the foods were culturally appropriate since it suggests that anyone, anywhere, can profit from a Mediterranean-style food plan,” said Danielle McAvoy, MSPH, RD, and a registered dietician with Strong Home Gym.

The team of researchers also identified that while the Mediterranean food plan has been consistently linked to lower dementia risk, their findings remind us that no matter food plan type, there are many advantages that come from eating large amounts of food, which help maintain brain performance and health.

Based on Dr. Dana Ellis Hunnes, a senior clinical dietitian at UCLA medical center, assistant professor at UCLA Fielding school of public health and creator of “Recipe for Survival,” we are able to thank the food plan’s anti-inflammatory effects for its cognitive advantages.

“There are a number of nutrition and epidemiological studies that indicate that healthy diets — corresponding to the Mediterranean food plan — lower inflammation. Among the best things we are able to do to decelerate aging and cognitive decline is to eat a really healthy, anti-inflammatory, and primarily plant-based food plan corresponding to a Mediterranean food plan,” Hunnes said.