A study published earlier this year in the reputed medical journal Neurology revealed that a Mediterranean diet has no role in reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease. The diet might have other health benefits but evidence in the context of dementia risk is absent.
The study on Mediterranean diet in dementia
The popular medical journal Neurology carried an article on Mediterranean diet and dementia earlier this year. The study tried to determine whether the diet can have any reductive action on dementia risk.
Malmoe Kost Cancer (Source: MKC)Mediterranean diet consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereals, pulses, legumes and lentils, seafoods, lean meat, and a bit of dairy foods.
The recruits were all part of the Swedish Malmo Diet and Cancer Study (MDC). 28025 participants in this group provided details of their diet to the research team. They formed the study group in this case. The study commenced in late 20th century. At that time, none of these people reported any dementia symptoms. But by 2014, there was some change in the findings.
The results of the study
In 2014, the study ended. By this time, 7% of the recruits had dementia. This was around 2000 people.
The scientists divided this study group into two groups: one group had a Mediterranean diet while the second group was on conventional diet that was not Mediterranean.
Mediterranean diet (Source: Oldways)On comparing the risk of dementia in both groups, the studying group found no difference. Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) head of research Sara Imarisio said:
“The evidence for specific diets affecting dementia risk is not clear cut.”
“In the coming years, it is important that more large, long-term randomised controlled trials explore the effects of different diets on dementia risk, and do so alongside brain scans, memory tests and use of different biomarkers to paint the most accurate picture possible.”
Expert opinion
Further Sara stated:
“A growing body of research is looking at what lifestyle factors make up our risk of dementia. And diet has been frequently studied as part of this.”
“This study shows that the effect of diet on dementia risk was not significant and did not reduce participant’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. Previous research, including reviews of multiple studies, has indicated that a Mediterranean-style diet may be associated with a lower risk of dementia.”
“This study recruited people in their midlife, a critical time window for modifiable risk factors to be changed in order to reduce dementia risk in later life.”
Mediterranean diet (Source: Health line)Read more here: Mediterranean style diet: The healthy diet pattern your favorite celebrities are in love with!
Talking about the study strength, Sara noted:
“In contrast to previous studies also looking at the effect of diet on dementia risk, people involved in this research had three different measures of their dietary habits through a self-reported diary, a detailed questionnaire and an in-person interview. This can limit errors in reporting dietary habits, as it does not rely on people remembering habits from years beforehand.”