Med diet can save us from Alzheimer’s

An all-Maltese team of researchers has found the Mediterranean diet slows down the progress of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Epidemiological studies show that food popular in the area protects against heart diseases and cancer but Maltese research has taken this scientific knowledge a step further. The four-year project looking into which natural molecules found in food and drinks impact the process of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s has singled out chemical compounds in the typical Mediterranean diet that “very effectively” slow down the ailment. These compounds, known as polyphenols, slow down and even prevent the deposition of plaques in the brain that cause the disease. “When it comes to neurodegenerative diseases, treatment options tend to focus on symptomatic relief rather than the underlying cause. Through this project, we wanted to find out which polyphenols protect against the development of the diseases and how they do it,” project coordinator Neville Vassallo said. The team replicated Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s in a laboratory environment. They then tested 17 polyphenols found in Mediterranean food and beverages and four...