Whole Grains Could Help Black Seniors Avoid Alzheimer’s

Black people who eat a lot of whole grains may be providing their brains with exactly what they need to stay healthy, a new study finds. The research revealed that Black individuals who consume high amounts of whole grains experience a slower rate of mental decline.

The study involved more than 3,300 seniors without dementia, the majority of whom were Black. Every three years, participants completed food questionnaires and participated in brain games and memory tests. The results showed that Black participants with the highest intake of whole grains—more than three servings per day—experienced significantly slower mental decline. Their brains were found to be approximately 8.5 years younger than those who consumed the least amount of whole grains.

Interestingly, this same benefit was not observed in white participants. One researcher expressed excitement at the possibility that increasing whole grain consumption by just a couple of servings a day could potentially lower the risk of dementia. However, he emphasized that more studies are needed to investigate the impact of whole grain consumption on other racial groups.