Minding the Mind: Bioactives and Nutrients in Green Leafy Vegetables Slow Cognitive Decline

Abstract

Cognitive impairment and dementia are not an inevitable consequence of the aging process. Current research indicates that nutritional status is a modifiable risk factor in the prevention and progression of cognitive function. There is compelling evidence of the role of poor diet in precipitating chronic diseases, such as mental health disorders, including depression and dementia. There are also extensive data that show that a healthy diet is inversely related to the risk for depression and cognitive decline. The MIND dietary plan (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) is an evidenced-based dietary approach that has been scientifically shown to slow cognitive decline through the incorporation of primary nutrients and bioactives found in green leafy vegetables and other specific food components.