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Following a Mediterranean-type diet can delay the onset of Parkinson’s disÂease by up to 17.4 years for women and 8.4 years for men, accordÂing to a study conÂducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia. While there is no cure for Parkinson’s disÂease, the Mediterranean and MIND diets, which include extra virÂgin olive oil, vegÂetaÂbles, seafood, pulses, and wine, have been shown to potenÂtially delay the onset of the disÂease.
A new study has found that folÂlowÂing a Mediterranean-type diet can delay the onset of Parkinson’s disÂease by up to 17.4 years for women and 8.4 years for men.
According to mulÂtiÂple health orgaÂniÂzaÂtions, there is still no cure for the long-term degenÂerÂaÂtive disÂease of the cenÂtral nerÂvous sysÂtem. It remains the fastest-growÂing neuÂroÂlogÂiÂcal conÂdiÂtion in the world.
The study shows indiÂvidÂuÂals with Parkinson’s disÂease have a sigÂnifÂiÂcantly later age of onset if their eatÂing patÂtern closely aligns with the Mediterranean-type diet.
Parkinson’s disÂease is caused when cells in the brain stop workÂing, which leads to tremors, stiffÂness and impaired musÂcles.
The study was conÂducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and comÂpared two diets: the Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets.
See Also:Health NewsBoth diets included the conÂsumpÂtion of extra virÂgin olive oil, vegÂetaÂbles, seafood, pulses (peas, beans and lentils) and wine in modÂerÂaÂtion. While the two diets shared simÂiÂlar traits, the MIND diet focuses on green leafy vegÂetaÂbles, berries, whole grains and poulÂtry.
“The study shows indiÂvidÂuÂals with Parkinson’s disÂease have a sigÂnifÂiÂcantly later age of onset if their eatÂing patÂtern closely aligns with the Mediterranean-type diet,” said Silke Appel-Cresswell, a moveÂment disÂorÂder neuÂrolÂoÂgist at the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
“There is a lack of medÂicaÂtions to preÂvent or delay Parkinson’s disÂease yet we are optiÂmistic that this new eviÂdence sugÂgests nutriÂtion could potenÂtially delay onset of the disÂease,” she added.
The study included 225 parÂticÂiÂpants with Parkinson’s disÂease and 156 conÂtrol parÂticÂiÂpants. The Mediterranean diet had a more posÂiÂtive corÂreÂlaÂtion with men and the MIND diet with women in the group.
The researchers also highÂlighted that a growÂing numÂber of studÂies have shown that exerÂcise may also be an effecÂtive way to reduce neuÂroÂlogÂiÂcal decline.
Separately, a research team from the Government College University Faisalabad conÂfirmed extra virÂgin olive oil – one of the Mediterranean diet’s main comÂpoÂnents – as benÂeÂfiÂcial for peoÂple sufÂferÂing from Parkinson’s disÂease.
They said the polypheÂnols in extra virÂgin olive oil help proÂtect against the disÂease by reducÂing oxidaÂtive stress in the brain.
Oleuropein found in extra virÂgin olive oil also have cytoÂproÂtecÂtive propÂerÂties for brain cells, which preÂvents comÂpounds assoÂciÂated with Parkinson’s disÂease from damÂagÂing them.