A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts helps slow biological aging and reduce the risk of brain diseases, researchers reported in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Authors of the study analyzed data from 69,370 participants in the British UK Biobank project. The average age of the participants was about 56 years.
Over approximately 12 years of observation, researchers evaluated how well participants adhered to the planetary diet. This eating pattern features mostly plant foods and limits red meat, processed meat, saturated fats, and added sugar.
Reduced risk of neurological conditions
People with the highest adherence to the diet had a 12 percent lower risk of stroke and a 13 percent lower risk of depression and anxiety disorders. They also had a 19 percent lower likelihood of developing multiple brain diseases simultaneously.
The strongest association with lower risks of depression, anxiety, and combined disorders occurred at roughly 86 points out of 130 on the planetary diet adherence index.
Slower biological aging
Scientists identified a possible explanation for the findings. Stricter diet adherence was linked to slower biological aging of the body, which partially explained the reduced risk of brain disorders. Depending on the condition, this mechanism accounted for 2.4 to 13 percent of the connection.
Earlier research showed that strength training also helps preserve cognitive function with age.
