New research has shed light on five rules that may bolster your brain health - and they all share one common trait. The peer-reviewed study, led by the US-based Tulane University, closely followed the diets of young rats across 14 weeks to better understand the role of diet in cognitive function.
Scientists specifically compared the impact of a so-called Mediterranean diet - rich in fibre, olive oil and fish - against the types of food Brits and Americans might eat every day. Staples like egg whites, butter and sugar were included in this, alongside highly saturated fats.
Given the Western diet's reputation for being less than ideal health-wise, it may come as no surprise that rodents feasting on more Mediterranean food reaped additional perks from four strains of good gut bacteria. But more interestingly, these same rats also outperformed their counterparts in learning assessments, linking their diet to enhanced brain health.
"Our findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet or its biological effects could be harnessed to improve scholastic performance in adolescents, or work performance in young adults," said corresponding author Dr Demetrius Maraganore. "While these findings are based on animal models, they echo human studies linking the Mediterranean diet to improved memory and reduced dementia risk.".
