How to Slow the Aging Process

Our internal clock is ticking on our aging. Are there things we can do to have it go slower and also reduce the risks of developing dementia?

The answer from researchers at Columbia University is yes and it’s all about our diet!

The researchers accessed the Framingham Heart Study which has been tracking people in Framingham, MA since 1948. This means they had real lives with data to look at.

What they did in this study was to analyze data from 1,644 participants who were older than 60. They took blood samples from them. The participants also had physical exams and neuro-cognition tests every four to seven years.

During the study 140 of the participants developed dementia and 471 died. When they looked at what reduced the risk of dying and also developing dementia, the researchers found the Mediterranean diet was the key element in the differences.

The closer a person followed the Mediterranean diet the greater the reduction in dementia and premature death. The dementia risk dropped 27 percent and the death risk dropped an amazing 57 percent.

The Mediterranean diet is a plant-based diet that focuses on unprocessed cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits. There is a moderate consumption of fish, dairy products (cheese and yogurt) and a small amount of read meat. Olive oil is also an important element in the diet.

So…if you want to live longer, just imagine yourself enjoying meals by the Mediterranean Sea, savoring the benefits of a healthier, longer life.
(Reported Annals of Neurology, 2024)