Research on Brain Health

Spotlight on Ultra-Processed Foods: Why Food Processing Matters — and What to Eat Instead
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

Spotlight on Ultra-Processed Foods: Why Food Processing Matters — and What to Eat Instead

In December 2025, The Lancet released the first research article in a three-part series examining ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and human health. Rather than focusing on individual nutrients, this research looks at dietary patterns—specifically how the degree of food processing shapes what we eat, how we eat, and long-term health outcomes

Using the NOVA food classification system, researchers group foods based on how much and why they are processed. The findings reinforce a simple but powerful idea: the closer a diet is to whole, minimally processed foods prepared as meals, the better it supports long-term health.

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Puzzles are Protective of Brain Power 
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

Puzzles are Protective of Brain Power 

Your brain works like an orchestra, with many musicians playing their parts to create a symphony. The conductor sits in your frontal lobes, just behind your forehead, directing the brain's "executive function."

Executive function encompasses many skills that get us through our day, such as planning, problem solving, controlling impulses, and adapting to new information. Problems with executive function can be an indicator or warning sign of subsequent dementia.  

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Spring Clean Your Gut
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

Spring Clean Your Gut

As we shake off the winter months and welcome spring, it's the perfect time for a gut health refresh. Just like you might declutter your home, you can also clear out the confusion around gut health trends and focus on what really works. With so much misinformation circulating, it’s time to ditch the noise and return to the science-backed basics of a balanced diet that truly supports your gut microbiome.

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The Power of Connection: How Socializing Supports Brain Health
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

The Power of Connection: How Socializing Supports Brain Health

We often hear about the importance of diet, exercise, and sleep for brain health, but did you know that socializing is an important piece of the puzzle? Engaging with others isn’t just enjoyable—it plays a key role in keeping our brains sharp and reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Science confirms that meaningful social activity and social engagement may protect the brain by supporting its ability to adapt and prevent neurodegeneration. So, let’s explore how socializing affects the brain and ways you can bring more connection into your life.

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MIND Diet Ranked #1 Best Diet for Brain Health in 2025!
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

MIND Diet Ranked #1 Best Diet for Brain Health in 2025!

We are thrilled to share that the MIND Diet has been recognized as one of the top diets for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report. It is wonderful to see a research-based approach gaining more recognition – and it’s leading the way in multiple categories. Here’s how the MIND Diet ranked in the 2025 Best Diets rankings.

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Coffee, Tea, or Brain Health?
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

Coffee, Tea, or Brain Health?

Some studies suggest that coffee and tea could play a positive role in supporting cognitive function. Learn more about what these studies say and what it could mean for your brain health in this blog.

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Meditation or Medication? Choose Your Anti-Anxiety Approach
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

Meditation or Medication? Choose Your Anti-Anxiety Approach

A 2023 study conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Hoge and colleagues at Georgetown University Medical Center, published in JAMA Psychiatry, compared the effects of daily meditation through a structured 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to the popular medication. Learn more about the findings in our blog.

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The Brain-Gut Connection
Emily Oswald Emily Oswald

The Brain-Gut Connection

Many people ask whether the MIND diet is an anti-inflammatory diet. First, it’s helpful to understand what happens when the body is under a state of oxidative stress that causes inflammation.

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June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
Jennifer Ventrelle Jennifer Ventrelle

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month

Almost 7 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. In recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, we want to help set you up for success when it comes to the latest research, updates, and resources to take action for protecting your brain health.

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Research Shows Big Risk Factors Connected to Dementia
Emily Oswald Emily Oswald

Research Shows Big Risk Factors Connected to Dementia

A recent study published in Nature Communications identified alcohol consumption, diabetes, and air pollution as the three potentially biggest risk factors leading to dementia, or physical changes in the brain that cause memory loss and other mental abnormalities severe enough to interfere with daily life.

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