A recent study reveals that improving one's diet may help reduce the risk of developing dementia, even among individuals with biological factors that make them more susceptible to the disease.
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Researchers showed that choosing certain types of foods, and staying away from foods that increase inflammation in the body, may play an important role in supporting brain health and reducing the likelihood of developing dementia with age.
Two researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, Anja Mörhar and Adrian Carballo-Casla, explained that the quality of a diet is linked to a lower risk of dementia, even in individuals who display blood markers associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and neurodegeneration.
The researchers followed the status of around 1,900 adults in Sweden, aged 60 and older, for a period of up to 15 years. None of the participants had dementia at the start of the study, but 240 of them developed the disease during the follow-up period.
The study focused on the relationship between different diets and the risk of developing dementia, taking into account the levels of certain biomarkers in the blood linked to Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration, and biological stress in the brain.
The researchers found that people who followed a healthy diet were generally less likely to develop dementia, and this correlation also appeared in individuals who had biological markers indicating a high risk of developing the disease.
The study did not focus on specific foods or single nutrients, but rather examined the overall dietary pattern that people followed, because humans consume a complete matrix of foods rather than isolated nutritional components.
The study showed that a less inflammatory diet was the factor most closely associated with a lower risk of dementia, as people who followed this type of diet recorded up to a 30% reduction in the risk of developing the disease.
An anti-inflammatory diet relies on increasing the intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, in addition to tea and coffee, while reducing the consumption of red and processed meats, refined grains, and sugar-rich beverages.
The researchers believe the importance of reducing inflammation stems from the fact that low-grade, long-lasting chronic inflammation can negatively affect brain health. It may directly affect nerve cells, or indirectly through its impact on blood vessels, insulin resistance, and heart health.
The study also indicated that the Mediterranean diet, as well as diets aligned with general public health guidelines, are also linked to a lower risk of dementia, especially among individuals with low levels of biomarkers associated with the disease.
The two researchers stressed that a healthy diet does not completely prevent dementia, as several factors intertwine in the risk of developing it, including age, genetics, cardiovascular health, and social conditions.
However, the findings indicate that improving dietary quality remains an important step toward maintaining brain health, even for individuals who show early signs of a high risk of developing dementia.
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