Ya Think? –
Sept. 24, 2025 – Aging isn’t just about birthdays. It’s also about how our organs age on the inside—brains included. Scientists can now estimate a person’s “brain age” from MRI scans and compare it to their actual age. When brain age is older than expected, risk for cognitive problems tends to run higher; when it’s younger, that’s a good sign. Diet is one way you can support a healthier brain, and Mediterranean-style patterns keep coming up as brain-friendly. Now, a new analysis points to a specific tweak that could potentially nudge brain aging in the right direction. It’s drinking green tea as part of a higher-polyphenol, plant-forward “green-Mediterranean” plan.1
Pachter D, Yaskolka Meir A, Kaplan A, et al. Serum Galectin-9 and Decorin in relation to brain aging and the green-Mediterranean diet: A secondary analysis of the DIRECT PLUS randomized trial. Clin Nutr. 2025;53:99-108. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2025.08.021
In this study, researchers tracked brain age along with a panel of blood proteins that can reflect inflammation and other brain-relevant biology. They found that people assigned to the green-Med diet (a Mediterranean diet with extra polyphenols from green tea and other sources) showed the most favorable protein shifts and overall signs of a “younger” brain profile.
