A Newcastle University study found that eating a traditional Mediterranean diet of foods such as seafood, fruits and nuts may reduce the risk of developing dementia by up to 23%. This is one of the largest studies performed on this topic, with previous studies having limited sample sizes and dementia cases.
A traditional Mediterranean diet rich in foods such as seafood, fruits and nuts may reduce the risk of dementia by almost a quarter, new research reveals. rice field.
Experts at the University of Newcastle found that people who ate a Mediterranean-like diet had up to 23% lower risk of dementia than those who didn’t.
This study was published in the journal March 14, 2023. BMCmedicineis one of the largest studies of its kind, as previous studies were typically limited to small sample sizes and a small number of dementia cases.
Priority for researchers
Scientists analyzed data from 60,298 people from the UK Biobank, a large cohort that includes individuals from all over the UK who have completed dietary assessments.
The authors scored individuals based on how well their diet matched key Mediterranean characteristics. The participant was followed for almost 10 years, during which he developed 882 cases of dementia.
The authors considered each individual’s genetic risk of dementia by estimating what is known as polygenic risk, a measure of all the different genes associated with dementia risk.
Dr. Oliver Shannon, Lecturer in Human Nutrition and Aging at Newcastle University, led the study, along with Professor Emma Stevenson and co-author Professor David Llewellyn.
The study also included experts from the University of Edinburgh, the University of UEA and the University of Exeter, and was part of the NuBrain consortium funded by the Medical Research Council.
Dr. Shannon said:
“Finding ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia is therefore a top priority for researchers and clinicians.
“Our research suggests that eating a more Mediterranean diet may be one strategy to help individuals lower their risk of dementia.
The authors found no significant interaction between polygenic risk of dementia and the association with adherence to a Mediterranean diet. They say this may indicate that eating a better diet can reduce the chances of developing the condition, even for those with a higher genetic risk.
This finding was not consistent across all analyses, and the authors suggest that further research is needed to assess the interaction between diet and genetics on dementia risk.
John Mathers, professor of human nutrition at the University of Newcastle, said:
“Although more research is needed in this area, this strengthens the public health message that a more Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of dementia.”
key intervention
The authors noted that their analysis was limited to individuals who self-reported their ethnic background as Caucasian, British, or Irish, and that genetic data were only available based on European ancestry. , and cautions that further studies in different populations are needed to determine its potential benefit.
Based on their data, they concluded that a Mediterranean diet high in healthy plant-based foods may be an important intervention to incorporate into future strategies to reduce the risk of dementia. concludes.
Dr Janis Ransone, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter and co-first author of the paper, said: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.
“The protective effect of this diet on dementia was evident irrespective of a person’s genetic risk, so this could be beneficial for people wanting to reduce their risk of dementia by making healthy dietary choices.” It can be a lifestyle choice.
“Future dementia prevention efforts can go beyond general healthy eating advice and focus on helping people increase their consumption of specific foods and nutrients that are essential for brain health.” can.”
References: “Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk of dementia, independent of genetic predisposition: Findings from a UK Biobank prospective cohort study.” Oliver M. Shannon, Janice M. Ransone, Sarah Gregory, Helen MacPherson, Catherine Myrte, Marlene Lentez, Angela Mulligan, Claire McEvoy, Alex Griffiths, Jamie Matu, Tom R. Hill, Ashley Adamson, Mario Ciervo, Anne-Marie Minihane, Graciela Munis-Terrera, Craig Ritchie, John C. Mathers, David J. Llewellyn, Emma Stevenson, March 14th 2023, BMCmedicine.
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02772-3
