MIND diet may slow Parkinson’s progression, study finds
Reducing levels of key protein helps maintain healthy gut barrier
A study showed that following the MIND diet — one that’s rich in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and berries, and low in sugary, fried, and high-fat foods — may help maintain gut health in people with Parkinson’s disease by reducing the levels of zonulin, a protein that helps control what passes from the gut into the bloodstream.
This is relevant because a permeable (leaky) gut can allow toxic substances to enter the bloodstream and reach the brain by traveling along the gut-brain axis, contributing to how Parkinson’s develops and how fast it progresses. Maintaining a tight gut barrier may help slow the worsening of symptoms.
“The MIND diet may modulate intestinal permeability in Parkinson’s patients, highlighting its potential to improve neurological and intestinal health,” the researchers wrote. The study, “MIND diet adherence associated with lower zonulin levels in older Parkinson’s patients,” was published in Geriatric Nursing. MIND stands for Mediterranean Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.
Parkinson’s symptoms occur when nerve cells in the brain are damaged and production of dopamine — a chemical involved in motor control — is progressively lost. Growing evidence suggests that following a healthy diet may help delay the onset of Parkinson’s and reduce symptom severity. Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, such as the Mediterranean diet, not only support overall health but may also benefit the gut–brain axis, the communication pathway between the digestive system and the brain, which researchers believe plays a key role in Parkinson’s progression.
Zonulin linked to leaky gut
Recent research points to zonulin, a protein that regulates intestinal permeability, as a possible link between gut health and Parkinson’s. Elevated zonulin levels may signal a leaky gut, which could contribute to inflammation and nerve cell degeneration via the gut-brain axis. Diets rich in antioxidants, such as the MIND diet, may help lower zonulin levels, supporting intestinal barrier function and potentially easing Parkinson’s progression. Researchers believe that targeting gut health through nutrition may improve both digestive and neurological outcomes.
“Filling this gap contributes valuable knowledge to the evolving landscape of dietary considerations in the management of [Parkinson’s], and potentially offers avenues for novel therapeutic strategies,” the researchers wrote.
The team wanted to understand whether the MIND diet, which combines the Mediterranean diet with a diet designed to lower blood pressure, could strengthen the lining of the gut and control what passes from the gut into the bloodstream.
The study looked at 57 adults with Parkinson’s, mean age 70.2, who reported what they had eaten in the past day. The researchers used these reports to calculate how closely each patient followed the MIND diet based on their intake of different food groups.
They also calculated a diet’s total antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between harmful molecules called free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralize them. They also reduce inflammation, which could potentially slow symptom progression.
The average MIND diet score — which ranges from 0 to 15 points, based on the number of servings of 10 healthy and five unhealthy food groups, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the diet — was 7.8 points. Men and women scored the same, 8 points.
Following the MIND diet more closely was linked to lower levels of zonulin in the blood, suggesting that it may help maintain a tight gut barrier. Lower zonulin was also linked with a more active lifestyle and higher antioxidant capacity.
“These findings suggest that this dietary pattern may offer dual benefits for both neurological and intestinal health,” the researchers wrote. However, “further studies with larger samples and controlled interventions are needed to confirm causality and explore underlying mechanisms,” they added.
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