“Berries are rich in antioxidants and other bioactive compounds, and poultry can provide high-quality protein as part of a balanced diet,” said first author Hui Chen, a professor of psychology and behavioral sciences at Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China.“

In contrast, higher intakes of sweets and fried fast foods tended to be associated with faster brain aging over time,” Chen said in an email.

Specifically, a higher intake of sweets and fried foods was associated with faster ventricular expansion, while eating more sweets led to more decay in the hippocampus, the organ in the brain most associated with memory.

There were unexpected findings as well: Cheese consumption appeared to protect the brain, while higher whole-grain intake was associated with faster declines in gray matter.

However, Chen said, cheese is so limited on the MIND diet that “I would not interpret our findings as evidence that cheese itself protects the brain.”

There are some correlations to be aware of here. People who eat lots of sugar and fast food are likely not leading healthy lives in other ways either.

I will buy a bag of mixed frozen berries on my next trip to the supermarket.