Eating Greek or Italian food may help older people retain more brain volume as they age, according to a new study by the American Academy of Neurology. The study followed 967 mentally healthy individuals in Scotland for three years after they switched to a more Mediterranean diet. Researchers concluded that switching to this diet alone can offset roughly half of the effects of aging.

“As we age, the brain shrinks and we lose brain cells which can affect learning and memory,” Dr. Michelle Luciano, the study’s author and neurologist at the University of Edinburgh, said in a press statement. “This study adds to the body of evidence that suggests the Mediterranean diet has a positive impact on brain health.”