Named the influence of the Mediterranean diet on the risk of developing dementia

The risk of developing dementia can be reduced by a quarter by a Mediterranean diet, a new study has shown. Evidence from over 60,000 patients suggests that a plant-based diet can help, regardless of a person’s genetic risk.

A Mediterranean diet of nuts, seafood, whole grains and vegetables can cut dementia risk by almost a quarter, promising research findings that could pave the way for new preventive treatments.

The findings suggest that eating large amounts of plant-based foods may have a “protective effect” against dementia, regardless of a person’s genetic risk, which the researchers say could form the basis of future public health strategies if further research is done. confirm their conclusions.

Study co-author Janice Ranson, a research fellow at the University of Exeter, says: “The results of this large population-based study highlight the long-term brain health benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. The protective effect of this diet against dementia was clear regardless of an individual’s genetic risk, and therefore it is likely to be a useful lifestyle choice for people seeking to eat healthy and reduce their risk of dementia.”

The findings, published in the journal BMC Medicine, are based on data from more than 60,000 people from the UK Biobank, an online database of health and lifestyle records for more than half a million Britons.

The researchers assessed people using two indicators of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and took into account the genetic risk of developing dementia in each person. For almost a decade, 882 cases of dementia have been reported, but those who followed a strict Mediterranean diet had a 23% lower risk of developing the disease compared to those who ate differently.

Dr Oliver Shannon, Lecturer in Human Nutrition and Aging at Newcastle University and lead author of the study, said finding ways to reduce the risk of dementia is a “top priority” for public health. “Dementia affects the lives of millions of people around the world, and there are currently limited treatment options for the condition,” he says.

Susan Mitchell, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the study is “intriguing” but needs further study, which should be extended to people of black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, especially given that dementia has been stigmatized in some communities. She said that there are “no reliable ways” to prevent dementia yet: “There is a lot of evidence that eating a healthy, balanced diet can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. But the evidence for specific diets is much less clear.”

Professor David Curtis of the UCLA Institute of Genetics notes that the study does not reflect the fact that people on the Mediterranean diet were more likely to lead a generally healthy lifestyle, making it unclear whether the diet itself reduces the risk of developing dementia, “although it is likely that this may be the case.”

The scientist added: “It is important to note that the study concerns all forms of dementia, and not specifically Alzheimer’s disease. In my opinion, if diet has an effect, it is more likely to affect overall cardiovascular health and therefore vascular dementia rather than Alzheimer’s disease.”

There are limitations in the results, which are based primarily on people with European ancestry, with further research needed in a wider range of populations.

Dr Duane Mellor, a nutritionist and lecturer at Aston University, noted that the food questionnaire used did not reflect British eating habits, for example that potatoes are eaten differently in the UK than in the Mediterranean region.

Mellor added that the study also didn’t look at the social dimension of nutrition, which is considered a core feature of the Mediterranean diet and may have a protective effect against dementia through increased interaction with people.