2023-06-16 02:07:22
Researchers have found that losing weight by adopting a diet full of vegetables can produce a “miracle” for the biological lifespan of the human brain.
In a study published in the journal “eLife ScienceAn international team of researchers has found that eating a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, seafood, and whole grains, or even just following dietary guidelines, slows the effects of accelerated aging on the brain that is often seen with obesity.
Brain scans conducted 18 months later showed that the participants’ brains appeared to be about nine months younger than expected, compared to the presumed chronological age estimates for their brains.
In the study, researchers imaged the brains of 102 participants in a clinical trial conducted at a single workplace in Israel. Participants’ brains were examined before and 18 months after the start of the trial, in addition to tests for liver function, cholesterol levels and body weight.
The groups ate one of three diets: a Mediterranean diet with lots of nuts, fish and chicken instead of red meat. Mediterranean diet with some additions such as green tea, or a diet based on healthy eating guidelines.
Brain age estimates were based on an algorithm trained on brain scans from a separate group of about 300 people.
On average, the people in the experiment lost about 2.3 kilograms. The researchers found that for every 1 percent of body weight lost following diet or health guidelines, the participants’ brains appeared nearly nine months younger than their chronological age.
“Our study highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle in maintaining brain health,” says lead author and neuroscientist Gideon Levakov, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
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