Mediterranean diet, as opposed to popular belief, does not decrease dementia risk

A number of studies have suggested that eating a healthy diet may reduce a person's risk of dementia, but a new study has found that two diets including the Mediterranean diet are not linked to a reduced risk of dementia. The study is published in the online issue of Neurology journal.

The Mediterranean diet includes a high intake of vegetables, legumes, fruits, fish and healthy fats such as olive oil, and a low intake of dairy products, meats and saturated fatty acids.

For the study, researchers identified 28,000 people from Sweden. Participants had an average age of 58 and did not have dementia at the start of the study. They were followed over a 20-year period. During the study, participants filled out a seven-day food diary, a detailed food frequency questionnaire and completed an interview. By the end of the study, 1,943 people, or 6.9%, werediagnosed with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Researchers examined how closely participants' diets aligned with conventional dietary recommendations and the Mediterranean diet.

After adjusting for age, gender, and education, researchers did not find a link between following either a conventional diet or the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of dementia.

Reference:

Isabelle Glan,AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY,Neurology