Mediterranean diet: This simple diet plan will keep your brain sharp even if Alzheimer’s runs in your family

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Multiple studies reveal that as you age, you may struggle with various issues, including your memory. Also, it is often assumed that, for those with a family history of Alzheimer’s, if it’s in your genes, there’s little you can do.

But now, a groundbreaking study offers new hope. It turns out what you eat, and not just your DNA, may hold the key to protecting your memory.

A new study suggests that your diet could make a real difference, even if you carry the genes most strongly linked to the disease. Researchers from Mass General Brigham, along with teams from Harvard and MIT, have found that a Mediterranean diet may help protect your brain, even for people at the highest genetic risk for Alzheimer’s. Their study, published in Nature Medicine, followed thousands of people over several decades, and the results are surprisingly hopeful.

Also read | Brain health and ageing: How emotional regulation can protect against memory decline

Here’s what the study says, and how eating a Mediterranean diet can benefit your memory:

• More than genes: Some people carry a gene called APOE4, which significantly increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. If you have two copies of this gene, your risk is 12 times higher than average.

• The Mediterranean diet: A Mediterranean-style diet includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, healthy fats like olive oil and nuts, lean proteins like fish and legumes, and limited red meat, sugar, and processed foods. It’s the eating pattern that supports your heart, and now, it turns out, your brain too.

• It regulates energy and metabolism: The diet influences metabolites — tiny molecules that manage energy balance and brain cell function — helping keep cognitive systems running smoothly.

• It slows memory decline even in high-risk groups: According to the study, individuals with two APOE4 genes benefited the most, showing a noticeable delay in memory decline when sticking to the diet.

• It works whether or not you know your genes: Most people never get tested for their APOE4 status. Thankfully, the diet appears to help everyone — regardless of genetic background.