Summary of Mediterranean Diet Linked With 23% Lower Risk of Dementia:
A new study by Newcastle University found that consuming a Mediterranean diet, consisting of foods such as seafood, fruit and nuts, may help reduce the risk of developing dementia by up to 23%. The study analyzed data on 60,298 individuals from the UK Biobank, with participants being scored based on how closely their diets matched the key features of a Mediterranean diet. The study is one of the largest conducted on the topic, with previous studies being limited in sample size and dementia cases. The researchers suggest that a Mediterranean diet could be an important intervention to reduce dementia risk, but caution that further research is needed in a range of populations to determine the potential benefit.
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Eating Mediterranean Diet May Help Reduce Dementia Risk by Almost a Quarter, Finds Study
A new study from Newcastle University reveals that consuming a traditional Mediterranean diet consisting of foods such as seafood, fruit, and nuts may decrease the risk of developing dementia by up to 23%. This is one of the largest studies conducted on the topic, with previous studies being limited in sample size and dementia cases.
Experts at Newcastle University found that individuals who ate a Mediterranean-like diet had up to 23% lower risk for dementia than those who did not.
The Study
Scientists analyzed data from 60,298 individuals from the UK Biobank, a large cohort including individuals from across the UK, who had completed a dietary assessment. The authors scored individuals based on how closely their diet matched the key features of a Mediterranean one. The participants were followed for almost a decade, during which time there were 882 cases of dementia.
The authors considered each individual’s genetic risk for dementia by estimating what is known as their polygenic risk, a measure of all the different genes that are related to the risk of dementia.
Dr. Oliver Shannon, Lecturer in Human Nutrition and Ageing, Newcastle University, led the study with Professor Emma Stevenson and joint senior author Professor David Llewellyn. The research also involved experts from the universities of Edinburgh, UEA and Exeter and was part of the Medical Research Council-funded NuBrain consortium.
The Benefits
Dementia impacts the lives of millions of individuals throughout the world, and there are currently limited options for treating this condition. Finding ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia is, therefore, a major priority for researchers and clinicians.
The authors found there was no significant interaction between the polygenic risk for dementia and the associations between Mediterranean diet adherence. They say this may indicate that even for those with a higher genetic risk, having a better diet could reduce the likelihood of developing the condition.
The authors caution that their analysis is limited to individuals who self-reported their ethnic background as white, British or Irish, as genetic data was only available based on European ancestry, and that further research is needed in a range of populations to determine the potential benefit.
The Conclusion
Based on their data, a Mediterranean diet that has a high intake of healthy plant-based foods may be an important intervention to incorporate into future strategies to reduce dementia risk.
The findings from this large population-based study underscore the long-term brain health benefits of consuming a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. The protective effect of this diet against dementia was evident regardless of a person’s genetic risk, and so this is likely to be a beneficial lifestyle choice for people looking to make healthy dietary choices and reduce their risk of dementia.
Future dementia prevention efforts could go beyond generic healthy diet advice and focus on supporting people to increase consumption of specific foods and nutrients that are essential for brain health.
In conclusion, eating a more Mediterranean-like diet could be one strategy to help individuals lower their risk of dementia.
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