MEDITERRANEAN DIET BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE WITH OR AT RISK OF DEMENTIA

According to a recent study, a diet high in seafood, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil may reduce the incidence of dementia.

According to a report published in the medical journal BMC Medicine, an analysis of data from more than 60,000 seniors showed that choosing to follow a Mediterranean diet lowers a person's risk of developing dementia by almost one quarter, even among those with genes that put that at greater risk.

Increased amounts of proteins in the brain that protect brain cells from harm may assist to guard against some of the damage to brain cells associated with Alzheimer's disease. This protection may come from high levels of antioxidants from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Regardless of a person's genetic risk, this diet had a protective impact against dementia, therefore adopting this lifestyle is probably advantageous for those who want to make healthy food choices and lower their chance of developing dementia.

The researchers evaluated participants' adherence to the Mediterranean diet using two criteria and took into account each participant's genetic susceptibility to dementia. There were 882 occurrences of dementia over almost ten years, however individuals who adhered to a strict Mediterranean diet had a 23% reduced risk of getting the disease than those who ate differently.

Although there is presently no cure-all to stop dementia in its tracks, maintaining a healthy heart through proper diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking can help safeguard the brain from conditions linked to dementia.

Although while the results from this analysis of several studies is very encouraging, it is important to note that other recent, significant studies have not revealed trends that are similar. It's also critical to acknowledge that because the studies were observational rather than experimental, they cannot demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

This suggests that people who eat a Mediterranean-style diet may generally have healthier lives; hence, the difference in memory and thinking issues may result from this, rather than from the diet itself.