Nutrition and Dementia: The MIND Trial by Dr. Martha Clare Morris

Dr. Martha Clare Morris, Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, offers the keynote address for the 2017 Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Fall Lecture - "The Science Behind Alzheimer's Disease Prevention and Brain Health." She details the research behind her MIND diet for healthy brain aging.

[jackschitt]

Martha Clare Morris, ScD, 1955-2020
Rush pioneer researcher of the connection between diet and Alzheimer’s disease, Martha Clare Morris, ScD, died peacefully following a battle with cancer

[KatherineOrho]

Absolutely great lecture! Fascinating.

[jorge.r.garciadealba]

It is very interesting how they created the mind diet (29:55).

[KatherineOrho]

How does the MIND diet affect ADHD? We do not do well on vegan diets. There is an actual ADHD diet, but I haven't researched it enough to know how it compares to DASH or MIND.

[kennethmoore]

The study findings suggest that the MIND diet substantially slows cognitive decline with age. Replication of these findings in a dietary intervention trial would be required to verify its relevance to brain health.

[kennethmoore]

evidence-based and realistic (finally)

Recommendations that may slow cognitive decline
• Regular physical activity, e.g., brisk walking for 30-45 minutes, 5-6 times per week
• Regular mental stimulation, e.g., watching documentaries versus reality TV, reading magazines, learning new information about subjects that interest you
• Mediterranean diet or similar diet shown to reduce vascular risk
o Foods with benefit: nuts, oils, green leafy vegetables, whole grain, berries, tea, chocolate, fish
o Avoid saturated fats (red meat and dairy) and trans fats (commercial foods and baked goods)
• Maintaining connection with friends, church, and community activities
• Volunteer time for your favorite charity
• Stress management techniques, e.g., using a dialectical perspective
• Limit intake of sweets and rapidly absorbed sugars
• Realistic weight loss to reduce risk of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome
• Smoking cessation
• Limit alcohol intake to 1 drink per day
• Have your doctor check cholesterol and triglycerides, treat hypercholesterolemia
• Have blood pressure checked regularly and treat hypertension if nondrug measures do not reduce systolic blood pressure below 150 mmHg
• Get professional advice regarding treatment of depression symptoms—sadness, insomnia, inappropriate guilt feelings, low energy, poor concentration, loss of appetite, apathy, suicidal thoughts or plan
• Sleep hygiene, 7-8 hours of restful sleep nightly
• Get medical attention early for medical problems. Even mild problems like dehydration or severe constipation can cause a rapid decline in memory or thinking. If you have diabetes or another medical problem that is not well controlled by you and your family physician, consider consultation with a specialist
• Avoid medications like Benadryl that can cause abrupt decompensation in patients with mild cognitive impairment

[bennguyen]

Regarding the chart at the 8m mark, surprised there is no distinction between the source of the saturated fat.. i.e. red-meat/tallow vs dairy/butter/ghee vs coconut/palm? I understand saturated fats raise cholesterol, but whole foods usually contain a mix of fats.. ex. butter is 1/3 monounsaturated fats, meat 1/2 monounsaturated, eggs are 2/3 unsaturated, etc.
Regarding how the Gamma tocopherol form of Vitamin-E found in foods, is more beneficial than the Alpha tocopherol (presynaptic proteins) commonly found in supplements... Dr. Barrie Tan suggests that its Delta/Gamma tocoTRIENOLS that are protective (found in Achiote/Annatto paste). Interesting, in the early 90's Joel Wallach was saying how they cure dementia-like symptoms in animals with high doses of vitamin-e!

Aside from eating fish 1+/week, any thoughts on the VITAL study that suggests DHA/Omega-3 supplements, at least for CVD, doesn't seem to help much?

Probably a good idea to get one's blood level tested for Folate (B9) / B12 / Zn / Mg... otherwise one might over-consume nuts. I like the part of strawberries for motor function, blue-berries for the cognitive benefits... my favorite is black-raspberries (not to be confused with blackberries)!


BTW, forgot to mention, there was a good episode of the BrainWaves podcast "#135 Brain Food" that suggests the evidence for nutrition to slow AD isn't very strong.. and that there's some evidence for statins to help cognition/memory?!

[anjanaagarwal]

just poised and phenomenal
Good learning for me

[WeatherMoon]

Question:
Would those who have a genetic chance of Alzheimer's also have a metabolic disorder that prohibits Vitamin E absorbtion?

[nichmon]

It's quite easy; just eat what God put here instead of man made junk.

[amilarathnayake]

Hi
I'm an experienced qualified Nurse .
I like to find a job as a caregiver in UK or any other.plese can you help me to find a job with visa.

[peggyvorse]

My mother died at 83 and she didn’t die from eating butter, she had a very alert brain until she made up with a kidney cancer died of that at 83!

[WeatherMoon]

Seems I need to increase my strawberry consumption (not a fan)