According to recent research from Newcastle University, a Mediterranean diet rich in fresh ingredients and flavor may hold the key to cutting the incidence of dementia by almost a quarter. Given that dementia affects millions of people worldwide, the possibility of dietary intervention to lower risk represents a significant advance. Examining the results of this ground-breaking study will help us better understand how a Mediterranean diet may enhance our cognitive health.
The Effectiveness of a Mediterranean Diet
The effect of a Mediterranean-style diet on dementia risk was examined in one of the largest studies of its kind by researchers from Newcastle University and partner universities like the University of Edinburgh, UEA, and Exeter.
The group examined information from 60,298 UK Biobank participants who had completed dietary assessments. Nearly ten years of participant monitoring saw the emergence of 882 dementia cases.
The Mediterranean diet, which is abundant in nutritious plant-based foods, is distinguished by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, and fish.
Each person was given a score based on how closely their eating habits matched the essential components of a Mediterranean diet in order to gauge their level of adherence to the diet. Refer to the following Healthify article for further information on the Mediterranean diet: Learn about the Mediterranean Diet
Important Findings: Genetic Factors and Decreased Dementia Risk
According to the study, people who ate a diet similar to the Mediterranean had an up to 23% lower risk of dementia than those who did not. This result held throughout a range of genetic susceptibility levels, indicating that even those with higher genetic susceptibility could still benefit from a healthy diet in lowering their risk of dementia.
The researchers also looked at how following a Mediterranean diet and polygenic risk—a measure of all the various genes linked to dementia risk—interacted. To evaluate this interaction, further study is required because the results were not uniform across all analyses.
Consequences and Prospective Research
Although the study has several limitations, such as concentrating exclusively on people who self-reported their ethnic background as white, British, or Irish, it emphasizes the significance of a Mediterranean diet as a viable intervention in further dementia risk reduction measures.
One of the joint lead authors on the article, Dr. Janice Ranson from the University of Exeter, underlines the long-term advantages of a Mediterranean diet for brain health, which provide defense against dementia independent of a person’s genetic predisposition. She adds that future initiatives to prevent dementia could focus on raising dietary intake of particular foods and nutrients that are crucial for brain function.
Consider a Mediterranean diet for improved cognitive health.
The results of this extensive study highlight the Mediterranean diet’s potential for lowering dementia risk. Regardless of our genetic predispositions, we can regulate our cognitive health and minimize our risk of dementia by adopting a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.
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Sources:
Shannon, O., Ranson, J.M., Gregory, S., et al. Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with lower dementia risk, independent of genetic predisposition: findings from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study. BMC Medicine, 2023; 21(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02772-3
Newcastle University. Mediterranean diet associated with decreased risk of dementia, study finds. ScienceDaily, March 13, 2023. Available at: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230313215055.htm
Hunt, K. Mediterranean diet linked with reduced risk of developing dementia. CNN, March 13, 2023. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/13/health/mediterranean-diet-dementia-wellness/index.html