Mediterranean diet keeps the brain fit

A new study has revealed that a Mediterranean diet could be the secret to keeping your brain in good working order in old age.

A diet rich in fruit, vegetables and olive oil means that you are less likely to struggle with everyday tasks as they age, the research said.

Nearly 4,000 men and women aged 65 or over were tracked to reveal that those on a steady diet of healthy foods performed much better than those who ate lots of red meat, white bread and processed foods, reports the Daily Express.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago found the best performers consumed lots of fruit, vegetables, fish, olive oil, beans, pulses, nuts and moderate amounts of alcohol.

These foods protect the brain by reducing damage caused by oxidative stress.

The research is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.