Eating This Slashes Your Alzheimer's Risk, New Study Says - Best Life

But now, a new study has revealed that eating a certain way can also reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.

A new study from the American Academy of Neurology, published in the journal Neurology on May 5, showed that a Mediterranean diet can also improve your cognitive health.

After comparing 343 people with a high risk of developing Alzheimer's to 169 people who weren't predisposed to the disease, the findings showed that a Mediterranean-like diet is a "protective factor against memory decline.".

Ballarini added that though more research is needed, these "findings suggest that people may reduce their risk for developing Alzheimer's by incorporating more elements of the Mediterranean diet into their daily diets.".

"Most people are unaware that it's possible to take control of your brain health, yet this study shows us just that.".

Isaacson said the new study shows that "it's possible to not only improve cognitive function—most specifically memory—but also reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease pathology" via changing your diet.

Sue Ryskamp, RD, of the Michigan Medicine Frankel Cardiovascular Center, told Michigan Health that the Mediterranean way of eating is not a diet, but instead a "meal style." "It's based on the traditional eating habits of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, where studies have shown these populations tend to live longer, healthier lives," Ryskamp explained.

According to a 2013 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Mediterranean diet was found to "reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes, and deaths from heart disease" by 30 percent, when compared to a low-fat diet, Harvard Health explains.

And for more small changes that can have major health effects, Eating This One Thing Can Cut Your Cancer Risk in Half, New Study Says