A study conducted by researchers at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio, Boston University School of Medicine, and the Framingham Heart Study has uncovered a connection between diet and the risk of developing dementia.
The researchers found that people who ate more pro-inflammatory foods were more likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia is a growing global concern.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050, the number of people living with dementia will rise to 152 million.
This increase will put a heavy burden on caregivers and healthcare systems worldwide. While some drugs can slow the disease or improve symptoms, finding ways to prevent dementia remains challenging.
One promising area of research is diet. Anti-inflammatory diets, such as the Mediterranean and MIND diets, have been linked to slower mental decline and a lower risk of dementia in previous studies.
These diets are rich in foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, which are thought to protect the brain.
To better understand the relationship between diet and dementia, researchers used a tool called the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII). This tool measures how much a diet may cause inflammation in the body by analyzing the nutrients and food components people eat.
Inflammation in the body, especially in the brain, is believed to play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
The study included data from 1,487 people aged 60 and older who were free of dementia at the start. These participants were part of the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term research project.
They filled out detailed food questionnaires during the 1990s, and their diets were analyzed for 36 components. Some of these components, like fiber, omega-3 fats, and vitamins A, C, D, and E, were considered anti-inflammatory.
Others, such as saturated fats and processed carbohydrates, were categorized as pro-inflammatory. Each participant received a DII score, with higher scores indicating a more pro-inflammatory diet.
Over a follow-up period of about 13 years, researchers monitored the participants for signs of dementia. During this time, 246 people developed dementia, including 187 cases of Alzheimer’s disease.
The results showed that people with higher DII scores, meaning they ate more pro-inflammatory foods, had a much greater risk of developing dementia. For every one-unit increase in the DII score, the risk of dementia increased by 21%.
Those with the most pro-inflammatory diets were 84% more likely to develop dementia compared to those with the most anti-inflammatory diets.
The researchers believe that the link between diet and dementia risk may be explained by inflammation. Chronic inflammation, caused by diets high in processed foods and unhealthy fats, can damage the brain and lead to the formation of harmful plaques, a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease.
On the other hand, anti-inflammatory foods, such as those rich in omega-3 fats and flavonoids, may protect the brain by reducing inflammation and supporting healthy brain function.
Although this study shows a strong connection between diet and dementia risk, it does not prove that diet alone causes dementia.
Other factors, like age, education, and physical activity, were taken into account, but more research is needed to fully understand how diet influences brain health.
These findings suggest that eating an anti-inflammatory diet could be a simple, long-term way to reduce the risk of dementia. By focusing on healthy, whole foods and reducing processed and high-fat foods, people may protect their brains as they age.
This approach could also help guide public health recommendations and create personalized dietary strategies to lower dementia risk.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
For more health information, please see recent studies about heartburn drugs that could increase risk of dementia, and results showing this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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