The Diet Named to Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease## Prompt Improvement 2:

A new study by an international team of scientists has shown that dietary characteristics may be linked to biological signs of Alzheimer's disease long before memory problems emerge: people who strictly follow the MIND diet are less likely to show pathological changes in amyloid protein levels - one of the key markers of the disease.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to the journal Nutritional Neuroscience, the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) combines principles of Mediterranean nutrition and the DASH diet and was specifically developed to protect the brain. Previous observational studies have already linked it to slower cognitive decline, but the biological mechanisms of this effect remained insufficiently studied.

"There is a gap in understanding which specific biological processes might explain the connection between the MIND diet and cognitive health," explained the lead author of the study, Professor of Nutrition and Dietary Behavior at Harokopio University, Mary Yannakoullia. According to her, one of the possible mechanisms is the deposition of amyloid beta protein, which begins many years before the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

As part of the work, scientists analyzed data from the Greek ALBION project. The study included 250 people without dementia with a median age of 65 years. Participants' eating habits were assessed using four detailed daily surveys conducted by nutritionists on different days of the week. Based on this data, each participant was assigned a MIND diet adherence score according to 15 criteria - from consumption of leafy green vegetables, berries, fish, and whole grains to limiting red meat, sweets, and fried foods.

The analysis showed that participants with the highest adherence to the MIND diet had approximately 57% lower probability of pathologically reduced levels of amyloid beta-42 compared to those who adhered to it the least. Even accounting for genetic risk - the presence of the APOE4 gene variant - the connection between the MIND diet and more favorable biomarker levels persisted.

"Our data show that following a beneficial diet may be associated with healthier indicators of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers," noted Yannakoullia.