Mary is 70 years old and worried about Alzheimer’s due to her family history of the disease. Which of the following has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s?

• A. Adopting a high protein diet with a focus on limiting carbohydrate intake.
• B. Following a strict ovo-vegetarian diet (type of vegetarianism that cuts out all animal products except eggs).
• C. The MIND diet - more fresh fruit & vegetables, while minimizing red meat & saturated fat intake.
• D. Increasing white meat consumption (e.g. chicken breast, turkey etc.).

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Alzheimer's disease risk can be influenced by dietary patterns that affect brain health, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
2. Recognize that the MIND diet is specifically designed to combine elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, focusing on brain-healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish, while minimizing red meat and saturated fats.
3. Evaluate the options given: a high protein, low carbohydrate diet and a strict ovo-vegetarian diet do not have strong evidence supporting Alzheimer's risk reduction compared to the MIND diet.
4. Note that increasing white meat consumption alone does not address the broader dietary pattern needed to reduce Alzheimer's risk, as it may not sufficiently limit saturated fats or increase antioxidant-rich foods.
5. Conclude that adopting the MIND diet, which emphasizes more fresh fruits and vegetables and minimizes red meat and saturated fat intake, has been shown in research to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.