A recent study reveals that improving one's diet may help reduce the risk of dementia, even in people with biological factors that make them more susceptible to the disease.
The researchers showed that choosing certain types of food, and avoiding 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.
Researchers Anja Merhar and Adrian Carballo-Casla from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden explained that diet quality is associated with a reduced risk of dementia, even in people who show blood markers associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and nerve cell damage.
The researchers followed nearly 1,900 adults in Sweden, aged 60 and over, for 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 associated with Alzheimer's disease, nerve cell damage, and biological stress in the brain.
The researchers found that people who followed a healthy diet were less likely to develop dementia overall, and this association also appeared in people with biological markers that indicated a high risk of developing the disease.
The study did not focus on specific foods or individual nutrients, but rather looked at the complete dietary pattern that people follow, because humans consume a complete range of foods and not isolated nutritional components.
The study showed that a diet that was less inflammatory was the factor most strongly associated with a reduced risk of dementia, with people following such diets recording a reduction in their risk of developing the disease by up to 30%.
A low-inflammatory diet is based on eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, in addition to tea and coffee, while reducing the intake of red and processed meats, refined grains and sugary drinks.
Researchers believe that reducing inflammation is important because chronic, low-grade inflammation that persists for extended periods can negatively impact brain health. It may directly affect nerve cells, or indirectly through its effects on blood vessels, insulin resistance, and heart health.
The study also indicated that the Mediterranean diet, and diets consistent with general health guidelines, are also associated with a reduced risk of dementia, especially in people with low levels of biomarkers associated with the disease.
The researchers emphasized that a healthy diet does not completely prevent dementia, as several factors contribute to the risk of developing the disease, including age, genetic factors, cardiovascular health, and social conditions.
But the results suggest that improving food quality may still be an important step in maintaining brain health, even in people who have early signs indicating a high risk of dementia.
