If you're wondering what inspired the MIND Diet to come to fruition, Moon says it all comes down to science. "Research studies [found] that the Mediterranean and DASH diets were protective against cognitive decline even though that's not what they were known for, and other studies found certain foods like leafy greens and berries were protective, too," she explains. "Before the MIND Diet, findings were first published in late 2015, there was all this directional evidence, but no dietary pattern specifically for brain health."
The MIND Diet blossomed out of two "heart-healthy diets," and was then maximized to boost brain health based on evidence-backed nutrients and foods that ward off cognitive decline and dementia, Moon tells us.